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0.%^ ^^^U ^^i>/^--f ^-^ 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR 



OF 



THE WAB 



IN 

WEST FLORIDA AND LOUISIANA 

IN 1814-1$. 



/ 

(with AN ATLAS. 



BY MAJOR A. LACARRIERE LATOUR, 

PHnc^l EnglnMr in tke late Serenth Military Dittriet United States' Ai-mj. 

WJUT T UI OAXOIirAIXT TB FASVCB, AVD TBAini£ATSD VOB TBB AmmOB, 

BY H. P. NUGENT, ESQ. 



Bis Tusd Kataloa egere ad caatra rerertoSy ^^ 

Bis rgeeti armit respeetaDt terga tegentes. 

Torbati fagiant Rotnlt 

Disjeetiqae duees^ desolatiqne niaBi|iS« 

Tuta petBBt . Vix'g^ 



PHILADELPHIA: 
FUBUSHED BT JOHN CONRAD AND CO. 



^Vti^ 1816. 

UNIVFPS • ^^ \ 



r-a^b 



t,3^ 



.V-^ 






DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA, to wit. 

BR IT REMEMBERED, That on the vxth day of March, ia the fortieth year 
of the independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1816, Arseve 
La ca RBiKRS Lato UR, of the aaid district, hath deposited in this office the title 
of d Book, the right whereof he ohums as Author, in the words following, towiti 

Historical Memoir of the war in West Florida and Louisiana in 1814-15. 
with an Atlas. By major A. Lscarriere Latour, principal engineer in the late 
seventh military district United States' army. Written originally in French, 
and translated for the author, by H. P. Nugent, es^r. 

Bis Tusci Rutnlos egere ad ccuttra reversos. 
Bis reject! armis respectant terga tegentes. 
Turbati fugiunt Rutuli 
Disjectique duces, desolatique manipU, 
Tuta j>ctant. Ttiy. 

In conformity to the act of congreM of the United Sutes, entitled* *' An act 
for the eneouragement of leanJing, by seouringllte copies of maps, charts, and 
books to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times there- 
in mentioned." And also to the act, entitled, *< An act supplementary to 
an aot» entitled, " An act for the encouragement of learning by sacariag the 
eoptes of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of audi 
copies during the times tiicreia mentioned, and eatendmg the benefits there* 
of to the arU of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints.** 

DA VIU CALDWELL^ 
Clerk o/. the DUtrict of Pennsifivanid. 



TO 
3IAJ. GEN. ANDREW JACKSON. 

Sir, • 

Allow me to offer you the following pages, in which I have 
endeavoured to record the events of that memorable cam- 
paign which preserved our country from conquest and 
desolation. The voice of the whole nation has spared 
me the task of showing how much of these important re* 
suits are due to the energy, ability and cotirage of a 
single man. 

Receive, sir, with this inadequate tribute to your high nienty, 
the assurance of respect and devotion with which I have 
the honour to be, 

Sir, 

Your most obedient 

and humble servant, 

A. LACARRIERE LATOUR. 

iATfw Orleans^ August 16, 1815. 







PREFACE. 



The immense debt of Great Britain, and the 
penses of a war carried on for nearly twenty years 
with hardly any intermission, having exhausted the or- 
dinary sources of her riches, while the war continued to 
rage with greater futy than even she found herself com- 
pelled to create new resources to enable her to perse- 
vere in the arduous struggle in which she wasengaged. 
For this purpose the rights of neutral nations, founded 
on the principles of natural equity, established for many 
ages by the unanimous consent of civilized nations, and 
secured by the faith of a long succession of tiraties, 
were openly violated by the English government, which> 
prompted by its inordinate ambition, wished to appro- 
priate to itself the lives and fortunes of their peaceat^c 
citizens. To accomplish this purpose, it became ne^ 
cessary to set aside those principles which, until then^ 
had been universally acknowledged, and to substitute 
new political axioms in their stead. By the mere ar- 
bitrary declaration of the British cabinet, the right of 
blockade was extended over the most extensive coasts, 
which all the maritime power of the world combined 



vis PREFACE. 

could not have blockaded with effect.* The obsolete 
right of sel^-ching neutral ships for enemy's propertj, 
this absurd remnant of the barbarous jurisprudence of 
the dark ages, justly rejected by the more enlightened 
policy of later times, was revived and enforced with in- 

* The^preten^^d n^^ht of bjockade never appeared Id so ridi- 
culous a light as immediately after tl^e departure of the emperor 
Napoleon from the island of Elba. It was then strongly surmised, 
and not without some probability, that the British government had 
connived at his escape, and to refute this charge, lord Liverpool 
was compelled to declare in the house of lords, on the 7th of Aprili 
1815, (seethe newspapers of the times) that the whole BritUhnU' 
vy would be intujficient to blockade the ialand qf Elba^ it is true* 
ha added the qu^ifying sentence: «o ai to prevent the escape qf 
an individual who chose to leave it. But when we consider the 
manner in which Napoleon sailed from that island, with several 
armed vessels, and a considerable body of troops, who will not 
laugh at the blockading pretensions of Great Britain, if it is true, 
as lord Liverpool clearly meant to intimate, that the whole British 
navy was insufficient to prevent such an escape from a small 
inland? 

Mathematical truth is not to be looked for in the speeches of 
British ministers; the blockade of the port of Rochefort by a sin- 
gle squadron, which afterwards so effectually prevented the same 
individual from escaping, even in an open boaty is an incontestible 
proof of lord Liverpool's exaggerauon; but it is not the less true, 
that his assertion, exaggerated as it is^ will ever remain the most 
cutting satire against the absurd claims of his government on the 
subject of blockade. • 



creased severity, and the right of pressing seamen on 
board of neutral vessels was claimed as a consequence 
of the same principle, wtnle, by a farther extension of 
the rights of belligerents, the trade of neutrals with the 
colonial possession of enemies, was at times entirely 
prohibited, and at others partially tolerated, by decrees 
whieh the belligerent government could construe at plea- 
sure, and which only served to allure the unwary, and 
secure a certain prey to the hungry swarm of British 
cruisa^s. Thus the plunder of neutrals, and the im- 
pressment of their seamen, were erected into a system, 

♦he true principles of which could only be discovered 
8 
from its eflfects. 

The United States of America, whose industrious 
citizens carried on a regular and immense commerce 
with all the nations of the globe, which had long ex- 
cited the jealousy of their powerful rival, experienced 
more than any other nation the pernicious effects of the 
new system, conceived and executed by this over- 
bearing state; and hideed it appeared to have t)een es- 
tablished principally with a view to check their com- 
mercial pursuits. The American vessels were plun- 
dered, detained, or confiscated. The mariners were im- 
pressed upon the most frivolous pretences, put on board 
the ships of war of His Britannic majesty, and subject- 
ed to the most rigorous treatment, in order to compel 
them to shed their blood in a Cause in which they were 



X PREFACE. 

not interested. On the high seas, in neutral har« 
hours, upon the coasts, and even in the waters exdu- 
sively subject to the jurisdiction of the United Stales, 
the American seamen were seized by the petty offi- 
cers of the British navy, who constituted themselves 
judges, de factOj of the most sacred prerogatives of 
man, and from the mere similarity of names, or, as 
^ their caprice dictated, tr^sformed a free citizen into a 
slave, without regard to the jJace of his birth, or to the 
natural and unalienable right, that all men have to 
choose their country. The sacred flag of the govern- 
ment itself was no longer a sufficient protection; the 
sanctuary of a ship of war was violated — freemen were 
dragged by force and carried away, in savage triumph, 
from an American frigate sailing quietly, in the midst 
of a profound peace; — ^the most ignominious punish- 

ment ^But I forbear. — ^This unheard of outrage, 

which then, for the first time, astonished the world, has 
been since sufficiently avenged. 

The American government at first only opposed 
to these enormous violations of the law of nations mild 
and conciliating representations, and pacific measures, 
which produced only some partial and niomentar}' dis- 
avowals and reparations. Wiih- the humane view of 
saving the country from the horrors of war, and in 
hopes of inducing England to adopt principles of equity 
and moderation, by making her government perceive 



FfiEFACE. XI 

thdt the people of America would never submit to mea- 
surss so tyrannical and degrading, the national le^s- 
lature resdved to interdict every sort of foreign com- 
merce, and laid an embargo on all the ports of the 
United States. 

This measure received the approbation of the 
whole nation. The citizens no longer deceived them- 
selves with respect to the views and motives of the Bri- 
tish government. They preferred submitting for a time 
to the inconveniences which the stagnation of commerce 
would naturally produce, to seeing their country ex- 
posed to endless humiliations, or compelled to engage 
in a war, the effects of which could not be calculated. 
For it was believed by many, that the constitution of 
the United States was only suited for a state of peace, 
and that war would infallibly produce a dissolution of 
the union. These considerations were weighty, and 
might well induce a nation to pause before it involved 
itself in a contest which seemed to threaten such a 
fatal issue. — The embargo was then a wise measure, 
as there appeared no alternative between it and war. 
Indeed it is probable that if it had been continued, we 
might have avoided a recourse to arms, and compelled 
Great Britain to return to the practice, if not to the prin- 
ciples of justice. 

But it was not so ordered, and a£ter little more than 
one year tlife embargo was removed. Let us throw a 



XU PREFACE* 

patriotic veil over the causes which produced this ua* 
expected stq). It does not belong to me to inquire 
into its expediency or its motives. Such an inquiry 
is entirely forei^ Xq the purposes of this work. As it 
was to be expected, the resumption of nuu^itime com- 
merce was followed by a renewal of spoliations on the 
part of Great Britain, who mistook our patience for 
weakness, and ascribed to timidity and other unworthy 
motives, a conduct which merely arose, from an earnest 
and laudable desire to preserve peace, and avoid the 
effusion of human blood. Far from foreseeing the jhi- 
vations and hardships to which the people of America 
would submit, and the exertions which they were ca- 
pable of making, if driven to extremity, Britain, blind- 
ed by h^r pride> saw in the removal of the embargo 
nothing else than the result of aix mordinate thirst for 
maritime commerce, and an effeminate attachment to 
the luxuries with which she had been in the habit of 
suj^lying us. As litde she foresaw how much she 
would have to suffer before she discovered her mis- 
take — how much of her treasure was to be spent, and 
of her blood was to be spilt, before she should be taught 
to know the spirit and perseverance of a nation which 
she affected to view with contempt. At last the repe- 
tition of injuries filled the measure of American long- 
animity, and WAR was solemnly declared byf.the United 
States, on the 18th of June, 1812. So little premedi- 



tated was tkis measure-^-so much was it produoed bya 
sodden burst of the national indignation^ diat bo prepa- 
rations had been made to support the dreadful contest 
that was now about to take place. Our militaiy es« 
tabUshment was hardly sufficient to afford garrisons fior 
the most exposed points erf our widely*extended fttwip 
tier- — ^the numerous ports upon our sea^board welt 
Jeft exposed, unguarded and unfortified, and our ma« 
rine consisted only of a few ships of war. But the 
bravery aiid energy of our citizens promised abundant 
resources for our military openftioos on the land side^ 
and the skill and martial ardour of our seamen, and 
particularly their excellent commanders, presaged cer- 
tain and glorious triunq>hs on die ocean. The riches 
of an immense soil, and the activity and patriotism of 
its inhabitants, gave a sufficient pledge to the govern- 
ment to justify the reliance which they had placed on 
the aid and co-operation of the nation^ which, on another 
and ever-memorable occasion, had proved to the wwld 
that there are no sacrifices that it is not ready to make 
in support of its independence, and in thc^ defence of its 
just rights. 

Thus the United States were forced into a war 
which they had not provoked;*-^ America took up arms 
in support of her rights, and for the preservation of her 
national honour, Ivith a firm determination not lay them 
down until the object should be attained. Provif 



dence blMsed; our ^oits, and our.arms were crowned 
with the most biiUiant trium[^ over those of our ene- 
my. The army and navy exhibited a noble rivalship 
of zeailj devotion, and glory. In the one Lawrence, 
Bainbridge, Decatur, Perry, M^Donough, Porter; — 
in the other Pike, Scott, Brown, Jackson, and many 
more, proved to the enemy, and to the worW, that we 
possessed resolution to defend our rights, and power tow 
avenge our injuries. 

The relation of these various exploits is the proper 
province of history. An abler pen than mine mil one 
day consecrate to posterity this monument of American 
fame. My humble task has been to collect a part of 
the materials that may sen^e to erect it, and which I 
offer in the present work. 

The volume which I present to the public is de- 
voted to the relation of die campaign of the end of 1814 
and beginning of 1815: that is to say, from the first ar- 
rival of the British forces on the coast of Louisiana, in 
September, until the total evacuation, in consequence of 
die treaty of peace, mcluding a period of about seven 
months. During that space of time, particularly from 
the 14th of December to the 19th of January, events of 
the highest importance succeeded eadi other with ra- 
pidity; but it was in the short period, from the 2Sd of 
December, the day of ^e landing of the British troops, 



PREFACE. 3tV 

to the memorabfe 6th of January, that tbe Aimttkm 
arms acquired that lustre which no time can effiuse. 

^Tcc fioterit tcmfiuB^nec cdax abolfre veiustas. 

The preparations which the British governmeot 
had made for the conquest of Louisiana were imi^ense. 
So certain were they of complete access, that a full s^t 
of officers, for the administration of civil government, 
Jfrom the judge down to the tide-waiter, had embarked 
on board of the scjuadron with the military force. The 
British speculators, who are always found in the train of 
military expeditions, had freighted a part of the trans- 
ports for conveying the expected booty, which they es- 
timated beforehand at more than fourteen millions of 
dollars. The British government well knew that they 
could not keep Louisiana, even if they should obtain 
the possession of it. They were not ignorant that the 
western states could pour down, if necessary, one hun- 
dred thousand men to repel the invaders; they therefore 
could only rely on a momentary occupation, which they 
hoped, nevertheless, to prolong sufficiently to give them 
time to pillage and lay waste the country. Therefore 
they had neglected no means of securing the plunder 
which they ex]pected to make. Such, indeed, was their 
certainty of success that it was not thought necessary 
in £i\p>pe to conceal the object of the expedition. At 
Bordeaux, at the time of the en^barkation of the troops, 
the conquest of Louisiana was publicly spoken of aa an 



"\ 



XVI PREFACE* 

enterpiue that conld not ftil of succeedtng, and the 
Britnh officers spoke of that campaign as of a party of 
pleasure, in which there was to be neither difficulty nor 
danger. It is even asserted, (though I will not vouch 
lor the truth of the assertion) that the prime minister of 
Great Britain, lord Castlereagh, being at Paris when 
the news of the capture of Washington arrived there, 
boasted publicly that New Orleans and Louisiana would, 
toon be in the power of his countiymen.* Yet this 
formidable expedition had already sailed from Europe 
when its precise object and destination were not known 
in America. It will be seen, in the course of this me- 
moir, that about the beginning of December, the great- 
est part e( the British force had arrived on our coast, 
when general Jackson had hardly sufficient time to 
make the first preparations for defence. Without fear- 
ing to be accused of flattery, we may justly call him 
(under God) the saviour of Louisiana: for, in the space 
of a few days, with discordant and heterogeneous ele* 
ments, he created and organized the little army which 
succeeded so well in humbling the British pride. It is 
true, that the love of country, the hatred of England, 
the desire of avenging the outrages which we had suf- 
fered from that haughty power, fired every heart;-^but 
all this would have availed nothuig without the energy 
of the commander-in-chief:, which will appear so much 

♦ Nilcs's Historical Register, vol. vii, p. 389. 



rssPAes. xvii 

the more ciLtinof^BBif^ vhea it U considered that he 
was constantly sick during thb memorable campaign^ 
so much so that he was on the pc»nt of being obliged 
to resign his command. Although his body was re^idy 
to sink under the weight of sickness, fia^gue, and con- 
tinual watching, his mind, nevertheless, never lost for a 
moment that energy ^vhich he knew so well how t^ 
communicate to all that surrounded him. To obstacles, 
which to others would have appeared insurmountable-^ 
to the want of the most indispensable supplies for the 
army, he opposed the most constant perseverance, until 
he succeeded either in obtaining what was required, or 
in creating supplementary resources. 

I have already said, that the energy manifested by 
general Jackson spread, as it were, by contagion, and 
communicated itself to the_ whole army. I shall add^ 
that there was nothing which those who composed it 
did not feel themselves capable of performing, if he or- 
dered it to be done; it was enough that he expressed a 
wish, or threw out the slightest intimation, and imme- 
diately a crowd of volunteers offered themselves to carry 
his views into execution. Such perfect harmony--^o 
entire and reciprocal a confidence between the troips 
.and their commander, could not fail to produce the hap- 
piest effects. Therefore, although our army was, as I 
have already observed, composed of heterogeneous ele- 
ments, of men speaking different languages, and brought 



up in different habits, the most perfect unimi and har. 
mony never ceased for a moment to prevail in our camp. 
No one can better than myself bear testimony to the 
good understanding that reigned among our troc^s. In 
the course of the labours at the fortifications, which 
were erected under my direction, I had occasion to em- 
ploy soldiers in fatigue duty, who were drafted by de- 
tachments from each of the several corps. These men 
were kept hard at work even to the middle of the night, 
and by that means lost the little portion of sleep which 
they could haVe snatched in the interval of then: mili- 
tary duties. I was almost constandy with them, su- 
perintending their labours; but I may truly say, that I 
never heard among them the least murmur of dbcon- 
tent, nor saw the least sign of impatience. Nay, more, 
four-fifths of our army were composed of militia-men 
or volunteers, who, it might be supposed, would with 
difficulty have submitted to the severe discipline of a 
camp, and of course would often have incurred punish- 
ment; yet nothing of the kind took place; and I solemn- 
ly declare, that not the smallest military punishment 
was inflicted. This is a fact respecting which I defy con- 
tr^iction in the most formal manner. What, then, was 
the cause of this miracle? The love of country, the 
love of liberty. It was the consciousness of the dignity 
of manr«-it was the noblest of feelings, which pervaded 
and fired the souls of our defenders— -which made them 



1»R£FAC£. ICIX 

bear patiently^ with thieir sufferings, because the country 
required it of them. They felt that they ought to resist- 
an enemy who had come to invade and to subdue their 
country; — they knew that their wives, their children, 
their nearest and dearest friends were but a few miles 
behind their encampment, who, but for their exertions, 
would inevitably become the victims and the prey of 
a licentious soldiery. A noble city and a rich territory 
looked up to them for protection; those whom' their con- 
duct was to save or devote to perdition, were in sight, 
extending to them their supplicating hands. Here was a 
scene to elicit the most latent sparks of courage. What 
wonder, then, that it had so powerful an effect on the 
minds of American soldiers— of Louisianian patriots! 
Every one of those brave men felt the honour and im- 
portance of his station, and exulted in the thought of 
being the defender of his fellow citizens, and the 
avenger of his country's wrongs. Such are the men 
who will always be found, by those who may again pre- 
sume to insult a free nation, determined to maintain and 
preserve her rights. 

I have in this work endeavoured to relate in de- 
tail, with the utmost exactness and precision, the prin- 
cipal events which took place in the course of this cam- 
paign. 1 have related facts as I myself saw them, or as 
they were told me by credible eye-witnesses. I do not 
believe, that through the whole of this narrative I have 



XZ PREFAC8. 

swerved from the truth in a single instance; if, how- 
ever, by one of those unavoidable Qiistakes to which 
every man is subject, I have involuntarily mis-stated, or 
omitted to state, any material circumstance, I shall be 
ready to acknowledge my error whenever it shall be 
pointed out to me. I therefore invite those of my rea- 
ders, who may observe any error in my narrative, to 
be so good as to inform me of it, that I may correct it 
in a subsequent edition. 

Although several documents contained in the Ap- 
pendix have been already published, I have nevertheless 
thought proper to insert them as necessary parts of the 
whole, and as the vouchers of die facts which I have 
related. I might, indeed, have reduced some of them 
to the form of an extract, but they would thereby have 
lost something of their original character. Some might, 
perhaps, have doubted their authenticit}\ I therefore 
preferred giving them entire. 



c.i.T. -::--' 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR 



09 tH£ 



WAR IN WEST FLORIDA AND LOUISIANA. 



INTRODUCTION^ 

The abdication of the emperor of the French, 
and the temporary pacification of Europe, consequent 
on that event, enabled Great Britain to dispose of the 
numerous forces which she had till then employed 
against France* The British cabuiet resolved that 
the war against the United States should be vigor- 
ously prosecuted* The British presses were set to 
work, in order to prepare the mind of the nation, and 
give it a bias favourable to the views of the govern- 
ment. The same journals which for several years 
had been filled with invectives against the emperor 
Napoleon, now began to vilify the chief magistrate of 
the United States. The artifices so long employed 
to alienate the French nation from her chief, were 
now resorted to against Mr. Madison. The friends^ 
or rather the agents of Britain, in the United States, 
repeated the same calumnies, invented the same fic- 
tions, advanced the same specious falsehoods, to de- 



^ HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 

stroy the President's popularity, and incite the nation 
to an insurrection against the government, which, ac- 
cording to British writers and emissaries, had drawn 
her into an impolitic, unjust, parricidal and sacrilegi- 
ous war. It was, they maintained, become necessary to 
punish the inhabitants of the United States, for having 
preferred a free government, of their own choice, to 
that of a British king: nay, the United States must be 
reduced to their original colonial subjection, as a chas- 
tisement for their having dared to declare war against 
Great Britam,Tather than suffer the lives and fortunes 
of their citizens to be forcibly employed in support of 
the British flag; and for their having presumed to op- 
pose those pretended maritime rights, to which all the 
governments of Europe had thought proper to submit. 
The ministerial papersdenounced the Americansas 
rebels, the devoteid objects of vengeance. British pub- 
lications now breathed the same rage as at the period 
of the declaration of our independence; and the minis- 
terial writers had recourse to the grossest scurrilities 
in their endeavours to vilify our government. As they 
pretended that it was not against France that they had 
^vaged so long^ a war, but against the chief who pre- 
sided over her councils; so now they affected to pro- 
claim that their hostilities were not directed against 
the people of the United States^ nor against the 
American nation, but merely against the leader of a 
dominant faction. It was to restore to our nation the 
enjoyment of prosperity, that they were determined 
to overturn our government! It was obvious that 
the cessation of hostilities in Europe, would afford 
Britain the means of executing a part of her threats; 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 3 

and reflecting men considered the fall, oi the emperor 
of the French (so long wished for by the friends of 
Britain) as a sure presage that we should soonhave to 
contend with a formidable British force by sea and 
land; nor was it long before these apprehensions were 
realized. 

On the frontiers of Canada, the British had hither- 
to conducted the war with much dexterity and in- 
trigue, but without any considerable number of troops. 
The courage of our soldiers could not remedy the 
faults of our generals, and the two first campaigns 
produced nothing more than some brilliant exploits, 
some particular instances of bravery> that could have 
' no influence on great military operations. Courage 
without military tactics, an ilKdisciplined army con- 
ducted without any fixed plan, with a defective sys- 
tem of organization, were the means with which we 
long opposed the British troops; and it may be truly 
said that the two first campaigns in Canada were con- 
sumed in a war of observation, and in the taking and 
retaking of a few posts. The Britbh, by all possible 
means of seduction, had stirred up against us a great 
number of Indians on the north-western confines of 
the United States, and excited them to commit depre- 
dations on our frontiers, and massacre our citizens. 
History cannot record all the atrocities committed 
by those allies of Great Britain, some of which are 
of such a descripUon that the most credulous would 
disbelieve them, were not the facts supported by the 
most creditable witnesses and the most authentic 
proofs. 



4 HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 

Experienceat last opened the eyes of our g#. 
vernment, and more nunnierous armies, under able 
and faithful officers, were sent into Canada, to carry on 
the war more effectually. It is foreign from the de- 
sign of this work, to enter into any discussion on that 
subject; and I will merely observe that it was in some 
measure owing to a defect in the law then in force 
for calling out the militia, that our military operations 
in Canada, during the two first campaigns, were at- 
tended with so litde success. I allude to the law 
which called out certain portions of the militia for six 
months only, at the expiration of which term die 
men were allowed to return home. Independent- 
ly of the time necessary to repair from the middle 
states to the frontiers of Canada, or to Louisiana, 
six months are hardly sufficient to train a soldier 
to military discipline and evolutions, so as to ren- 
der him fit to contend in the field against veteran 
troops, A subsequent law has, indeed, pardy re- 
medied this evil, by prolonging the time of ser* 
vice to twelve months; but even this term would pro- 
bably be insufficient, had we to carry on a war with 
vigour. 

The arrival of reinforcements to the British army 
in Canada, was the prelude to more extensive opera- 
tions. The taking of Washington, and the several 
attacks made on different points of the Chesapeake, 
sufficiendy evinced the intention of the British go- 
vernment, to endeavour to execute the threats de- 
nounced against us through their newspapers. The 
burning of Havre-de-Grace, the excesses committed 
at Hampton, and at Frenchtown, enabled us to form a 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 5 

just idea of the men who professed d^ intention of 
delivering us from a " government ridiculously despo- 
tic,'* and who in the meantime insulted our wives and 
daughters, destroyed or plundered our property, and 
indiscriminately set fire to humble cottages and state- 
ly palaces. The capitol itself, that noble monument 
that might have commanded respect even from bar- 
barians, became a prey to the flames; and that we 
should not remain in doubt as to the fate we were 
to expect, the commander of the British naval forces, 
in an official communication to the secretary of 
state, explicitly avowed his determination to continue 
the same system of inhuman warfare, and to lay waste 
and destroy the American coast, wherever assaila- 
ble.* From that moment all eyes were opened; the 
cry of indignation was heard from one extremity of 
the union to the other^ and all minds were now bent 
on an obstinate and determined resistance. It was 
evident to all that we had no longer to contend for 
the precarious possession of an inconsiderable extent 
of country, but that we were called on to delbnd our 
wives and children from British insult and brutality; 
our fortunes from the rapacity of British invaders, and 
our homes from pillage, fire and devastation. Those 
who had hitherto considered the war only as to ho- 
nourable contest between two nations, mutually es- 
teeming each other, but set at variance by conflicting 
interests, were now convinced that our enemies were 
determined to wage against us a war of extermina- 
tion, and that we had to repel a savage foe, who came 

• See admiral Cochrane's letter in the Appendix, No. 1. 



6 HISTORICAL MEllOIit. 

to cover our ^untry with mourning and desolation. 
The Halifax ^pers announced the embarkation of 
troops that had composed part of lord Wellington's 
army. In the list of the regiments and of the general 
officers, appear several of the former and of the latter 
who since came to the banks of the Mississippi. The 
expedition against New Orleans was to consist of 
eighteen thousand men. The same papers predicted 
that the calamities of war would be severely and 
extensively felt by the inhabitants of the United 
States. 

From that time it was generally believed that the 
British would attack the southern states in the ensu- 
ing autumn or winter, and Louisiana was particularly 
pointed out as their most probable object of invasion: 
yet so ill does the general government appear to have 
been served by its agents in that remote part of the 
union, that as late as in the month of September, 
nothing had been done in the way of effectual prepa- 
rations, to put that country in a state of defence. 

Louisiana, which was particularly marked out as 
the principal point against which was to be directed 
a formidable British force, with a considerable extent 
of coast, numerous communications by water, and 
with hardly any fortified points, open on all sides, 
having in its neighbourhood a Spanish settlement 
freely admitting the enemy's ships, and a great pro- 
portion of whose population was disposed to aid him, 
had no force on which to rely for the defence of her 
shores, except six gun- boats and a sloop of war. 
From the gallant defence made by the brave crews of 
these vessels, we may judge what would have been 



HIST0R!ICAL tfEMOIR. 7 

• 

effected tby a number proportionate to the extent of 
coast to be defended. Fort Plaqueromes, that of 
Petites CoquiUes, and fort Bowyer at Mobile point, 
were the only advanced points fortified; and none 
of ihem capable of standing a regular siege. 

It may now be made known, without any other 
danger than that of its appearing incredible, tliat Lou- 
isiana, whose coasts are accessible to such flat-bot- 
tomed vessels as are used in conveying mortars, had 
but two of these engines which belonged to the 
navy, and which were landed from bomb-ketchea 
that had been condemned. Nor is this all: there 
were not a himdred bombs of the calibre of those 
mortars; nor, indeed, could much advantage be deri- 
ved from them, however well served or supplied. 
Professional men will understand, that from the con- 
struction of their carriages, they were only fit to be 
mounted on board of vessels, and by no means calcu- 
lated for land batteries. 

The fort of Petites Coquilles was not finished at 
the time of the invasion, nor was it in a condition to 
make an ordinary resistance. As to fort Bowyer, at 
Mobile point, it will appear from the particular ac- 
count given in this work of the two attacks it sustain- 
ed, that the brave garrison defending it did all that 
could be reasonably expected from its local situation 
and means of resistance. Such was the inconsidera- 
ble defence that protected the shores of Louisiana, 
and covered a country that has an extent of coast of 
upwards of six hundred miles, and of wluch even a 
temporary possession by an enemy might be attend 



Z^' 



■%>'"■- ■■ T-,?.^ 



8 HISTORICAL HEMOim. 

cd with cons^uences baneful to the future prosperity 
of the western states. The general government 
might and ought to have been well informed of 
the vulnerable points of Loubiana. Accurate maps 
of the country on a large scale had been made, by 
the engineer B. Lafon and myself,^ and delivered to 
brigadier-general Wilkinson, who, it is presumable, 
did not fail to forward them to the secretary of war. 
That part of the state, in particular, by which the 
enemy penetrated, was there laid down, and in 1813 
brigadier-gener^ Floumoy ordered major Lafon, then 
chief engineer of the district, to draw up an exact 
account of all the points to be fortified for the general 
defence of Louisiana. The draughts, which were 
numerous, and formed an atlas, were accompanied 
with very particular explanatory notes. That work, 
which reflects great credit on its author, pointed out 
in the most precise and clear manner what was expe- 
dient to be done, in order to put the country in a 
state of security against all surprise. I have always 
understood that those draughts were ordered and ex- 
ecuted for the purpose of being sent to the then se- 
cretary of war, to enable the go\ ernment to determine 
in their wisdom the points proper to be fortified. To 
what fatality then was it owing, that Louisiana, 
whose means of defence were so inadequate; which 
had but a scanty white population, composed, in a 
great proportion, of foreigners speaking various Ian- 
guages; so remote from any succours, though one of 
the keys of the union — was so long left without the 
means of resisting the enemy? I shall be told that to 
fortify the coast in time of peace, were to incur an 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 9 

unnecessary expense. This position*! by no means 
admit; but I further observe that the war had already 
existed two years; and we ought to have jMresumed, 
had positive proof been wanting, that the British, 
having numerous fleets, and every means of trans- 
porting troops to all points of the coast of the United 
States, would not fail to make an attempt )^inst 
Louisiana;-^a country which already by its prodigi- 
ous and unexampled progress in the culture of sugar, 
was become a dangerous rival to the British colonies. 
The city of New Orleans contained produce to a 
vast amount The cotton crops of the state of Lou? 
isiana and the Mississippi territory, accumulated du- 
ring several years, were stored in that city, siu*round- 
ed with considerable plantations, having numerous 
gangs of slaves. It was, in a word, the emporium 
of the produce of a great portion of the western 
states. The Mississippi on which it lies, receives 
the streams that water upwards of a million of square 
miles, and wafts to New Orleans the annually in* 
creasing productions of their fertile banks. — It is by 
the Mississippi and the rivers emptying into it, that 
the communication is kept up between the western 
and northern states.— And by the Mississippi and 
the Missouri, there will, at no distant period, be car- 
ried on, without difficulty, or with very little obstruc- 
tion, the most extensive inland navigation on the 
globe. 

All these advantages were calculated to excite 
the cupidity of the British, and inspire them with the 
desire of getting possession of a country which, be- 
sides its territorial wealth, insured to whoever might 



10 HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 

hold it, an immediate control over the western states. 
In possessing themselves of Louisiana, the least fa- 
vourable prospect of the enemy was the plunder of a 
very considerable quantity of produce, the destruction, 
of a city destined to become commercial, and opu- 
lent in the highest degree, and the ruin of numerous 
plantations which must one day rival in their pro- 
ductions, those of the finest colonies of European 
nations. Their other prospects, less certain indeed, 
but in which they were not a little sanguine, were 
the separation of the western states from the rest of 
the union; the possibility of transferring the theatre 
of war to the westward, by the possession of the 
Mississippi, and efiecting a junction with their army 
in Canada; and lastly, being masters of Louisiana, to 
import by the river their various manufactures, and 
secure to themselves the monopoly of the fur trade. 
Let us now see in what manner the British began 
to execute their hostile designs against Louisiana: In 
the course of the summer of 1814, the brig Orpheus 
had landed arms and officers in the bay of Apalachi- 
cola, and entered into arrangements with the Creeks, 
to. act against fort Bowyer at Mobile point, justly 
looked upon as a place the possession of which was 
of the greatest importance towards the execution of 
the grand operations projected against Louisiana. 
The British officers diligently executed the object of 
their instructions, and had completely succeeded in 
rallying under their standard all the tribes of Indians 
living to the east of the Chactaws, when an expedi- 
tion of some troops, on board the sloops of war 
Hermes and Caron, sailed from Bermuda under the 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR* 11 

command of colonel Nicholls, of the artillery, an en- 
terprising, active, and brave officer, and on the 4th of 
August touched at the Havanna, in hopes of obtain- 
ing the co-operation of the Spanish governor, the as- 
sistance of some guti-boats and small vessels, with 
permission to land their troops and artillery at Pen- 
sacola. On the refusal of the captain-general, they 
sailed for Pensacola, determined to land there; al- 
though the captain-general had positively refused to 
grant them permission. (See Appendix, No. 2.) 

Colonel NichoUs accordingly landed at Pensacola, 
where he established his head-quarters, and enlisted 
and publicly drilled Indians, who wore the British 
uniform in the streets. 

The object of that inconsiderable expedition ap- 
pears to have been to sound the disposition of the in- 
habitants of the Floridas and Louisiana; to procure 
the information necessary for more important opera- 
tions, and to secure pilots to conduct the expedition 
on our coast and.in our waters, rather than to attempt 
any thing of importance. 

Colonel NichoUs directed captain Lockyer of the 
brig Sophia, to convey an officer to Barataria with a 
packet for Mr. Lafitte, or whoever else might be at 
the head of the privateers on Grande Terre. 

To give a correct idea of that establishment at 
Barataria, of which so much has been said, it is ne- 
cessary to enter into some details, by a digression 
which will naturally bring us back to our subject. 



12 HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 



BARATARIA. 

At the period of the taking of Guadaloupe by the 
British, most of the privateers commissioned by the 
government of that island, and which were then on 
^ cruise, not being able to return to any of the West- 
India islands, made for Barataria, there to take in a 
supply of water and provisions, recruit the health of 
their crews, and dispose of their prizes, which could 
pot be admitted into any of the ports of the United 
States; we being at that time in peace with Great Bri- 
tain. Most of the commissions granted to privateers 
by the French government at Guadaloupe, having ex- 
pired some time after the declaration of the inde- 
pendence of Carthagena, many of the privateers rcr 
paired to that port, for the purpose of obtaining from 
the new government, commissions for cruising against 
Spanish vessels. They were all received by the 
people of Carthagena with the enthusiasm which is 
ever observed in a country that for the first time 
shakes off the yoke of subjection; and indeed a con- 
siderable number of men, accustomed to great politi- 
cal convulsions, inured to the fatigues of war, and 
who by their numerous cruises in the gulf of Mexi- 
co and about the West-India islands, had become 
well acquainted with all those coasts, and possessed 
the most effectual means of annoying the royalists, 
could not fail to be considered as an acquisition to 
the new republic. 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. IS 

Having duly obtained their commissions, they iiv^ 
a manner blockaded for a long time all the ports be- 
longing to the royalists, and made numerous cap- 
tures, which they carried into Barataria. Under this 
denomination is comprised part of the coast of Loui- 
siana to the west of the mouths of the Mississippi, 
comprehended between Bastien bay on the east, and 
the moutlis of the river or bayou la Fourche on 
the west. Not far from the sea are lakes called the 
great, the small, and the larger lake of Barataria, com- 
municating with one another by several large bayous 
with a great number of branches. There is also the 
island of Barataria, at the extremity of which is a place 
called the Temple, 'which denomination it owes to 
several mounds of shells thrown up there by the Indi- 
ans,long before the settlement of Louisiana, and which 
from the great quantity of human bones, are evident- 
ly funereal and religious monuments. 

The island is formed by the great and the small 
lakes of Barataria, the bayou Pierrot, and the bayou 
or river of Ouatchas, more generally known by the 
name of bayou of Barataria; and finally the same de- 
nomination is given to a large basin which extends 
the whole length of the Cypress swamps, lakes, prai- 
ries and bayous behind the plantations on the right 
bank of the river, three miles above New Orleans, as 
far as the gulf of Mexico, being about sixty miles in 
length and thirty in breadth, bounded on the west by 
the highlands of la Fourche, and on the east by those 
of the right bank of the Mississippi. These waters 
disembogue into the gulf by two entrances of the 
lijike or rather the bayou Barataria, between which 



14 HISTORTCAt MEMOIR. 

lies an island called Grande Tenre, six miles in length 
and from two to three miles in breadth, running pa- 
rallel with the coast. In the western entrance is the 
great pass of Barataria, which has from nine to ten 
feet of water. Within this pass, about two leagues 
from the open sea, lies the only secure harbour on all 
that coast, and accordingly this is the harbour fre- 
quented by the privateers, so well known by the 
name of Baratarians.* Social order has indeed to re- 
gret that those men, mostly aliens, and cruising un- 
der a foreign flag, so audaciously infringed our laws 
as openly to make sale of their goods on our soil; 
but what is much more deplorable and equally as- 
tonishing is, that the agents of government in this 
country so long tolerated such violation of our laws, 
or at least delayed for four years to take effectual 
measures to put a stop to these lawless practices. 
It cannot be pretended that the country was desti- 
tute of the means necessary to repress these outrages. 
The troops stationed at New Orleans were sufficient 
for that purpose, and it cannot be doubted but that 
a well conducted expedition would have cleared our 
waters of the privateers, and a proper garrison sta- 
tioned at the place they made their harbour, would have 
prevented their return. The species of impunity with 
which they were apparently indulged, inasmuch as no 
rigorous measures were resorted to against them, made 
the contraband trade carried on at Barataria, be con- 
sidered as tacitly tolerated. In a word, it is a fact 
no less true than painful for me to assert, that at 
Grande Terre, the privateers publicly made sale, by 

♦ See plate No, 1, in the Atlas, 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 15 

auction, of the cargoes of their prizes. From all 
parts of Lower Louisiana people resorted to Barataria, 
without being at all solicitous to conceal the object 
of their journey. In the streets of New Orleans it 
was usual for traders to give and receive orders for 
purchasing goods at Barataria, with as little secrecy 
as similar orders are given for Philadelphia or New- 
York. The most respectable inhabitants of the state^ 
especially those living in the country, were in the 
habit of purchasing smuggled goods coming from 
Barataria. The frequent seizures made of those 
goods, were but an ineffectual remedy of the evil, as 
the great profit yielded by such parcels as escaped 
the vigilance of the custom»house officers, indemni- 
fied the traders for the loss of what they had paid for 
the goods seized; their price being always very mode- 
rate, by reason of the quantity of prizes brought in, 
and of the impatience of the captors to tuni them 
into money, and sail on a new cruise. This traffic 
was at length carried on with such scandalous noto- 
riety, that the agents of government incurred very 
general and open reprehension, many persons con- 
tending that they had interested motives for conniv- 
ing at such abuses, as smuggling was a source of 
confiscation, from which they derived considerable 
benefit. 

It has been repeatedly asserted in the public prints 
throughout the union, that most of those privateers 
had no commissions, and were really pirates. This 
I believe to be a calumny, as I am persuaded they 
all had commissions either from Carthagena or firom 
France, of the validitv of which it would seem the 



16 HISTORICAL MSMOIR. 

government of those respective countries were alone 
competent judges. ^ 

The privateers of Barataria committed indeed a 
great offence against the laws of the United States 
in smuggling into their territory goods captured from 
nations with which we were at peace; and for this 
offence they justly deserved to be punished. But 
in addition to this acknowledged guilt, to charge them 
with the crime of piracy, when on the strictest inquiry 
no proof whatsoever of any act amounting to this 
species of criminality has been discovered, and though 
since the pardon granted to them by the president of 
the United States, they have shown their papers and 
the exact list of the vessels captured by them, to eve- 
ry one who chose to see them, seems evidently un- 
just. Without wishing to extenuate their real crime, 
that of having for four years carried on an illicit trade, 
I again assert that the agents of government justly 
merit the reproach of having neglected their duty. 
The government must surely have been aware of the 
pernicious consequences of this contraband trade; and 
they had the means of putting a stop to it. It is true 
that partial expediticKis had been fitted out for that 
purpose; but whether through want of judgment in the 
plan, or through the fault of the persons command- 
ing those expeditions, they answered no other purpose 
than to suspend this contraband trade in one part, by 
making it take a more western direction. Cat island, 
at the mouth of the bayou or river la Fourche, 
became the temporary harbour of the privateers, 
whose vessels were too well armed to apprehend an 



HtSTO&ICAL HEMOIfti 17 

attack from land troops in cn^dinary transportSi Hence 
the troops stationed at Grande Terre, la Fourche, Scc^ 
could do no more than prevent the continuance of 
the illegal trade, while they were on the spot; but on 
their departure, the Baratarians immediately return- 
ed to their former station. 

There have been those who preteaded that the pri* 
vateers of Barataria were secretly encouraged by the 
English, who were glad to see a commerce carried on 
that must prove so injurious to the revenue of the Uni- 
ted States, But this charge is fuUy refuted by this fact, 
that at different times the English sought to attack 
the privateers at Barataria, in hopes of taking their 
prizes, and even their armed vessels. Of these at- 
tempts of the British, suffice it to instance that of the 
23d of June, 1813, when two privateers being at an- 
chor off Cat island, a British sloop of war anchored at 
the entrance of the pass, an4 sent her boats to en- 
deavour to take the privateers; but they were repuls- 
ed after having sustained considerable loss. 

Such was the state of affairs when on the 2d of 
September 1814, there appeared an armed brig on the 
coast opposite the pass. She fired a gun at a vessel 
about to enter and forced her to run aground; she 
then tacked and shortly after came to an anchor at 
the entrance of the pass. It was not easy to un- 
derstand the intentions of this vessel, who having 
commenced with hostilities on her first appearance, 
now seemed to announce an amicable disposition. 
Mr. Lafitte, the younger, went off in a boat to ex- 
amine her, venturing so far that he could not es- 



18 HISTOmC Al XBICOIE. 

cape from the pinnace sent from the brig and making 
towards the shore, bearing British colours and a flag 
of truce. In this pinnace were two British naval 
officers, captain Lockyer, commander of the brig, 
and an officer who interpreted for him, with captain 
Williams of the infantry. The first question they 
asked was, whete was Mr. Lafitte? He, not choos- 
ing to make himself known to them, repHed that the 
person they ]n(|uired for was on shore. They then 
delivered him apacket directed " To Mr. Lafitte — ^Ba- 
rataria;" requesting him to take particular care of it, 
and to deliver it into Mr. Lafitte's own hands. He pre- 
vailed on them to make for the shore, and as soon 
as they got near enough to be in his power, he made, 
himself known, recommending to them at the same 
time to conceal the business on which they had 
come. Upwards of two hundred persons lined the 
shore, and it was a general cry amongst the crews of 
die privateers at Grande Terre, that those BritisAi 
officers should be made prisoners and sent to New- 
Orleans, as being spies who had come under feigned 
pretences to examine the coast and the passages, 
with intent to invade and ravage the country. It 
was with much difficulty that Mr. Lafitte succeeded 
in dissuading the multitude from this intent, and led 
the officers in safety to his dwelling. He thought, 
very prudently, that the papers contained in the pack- 
et might be of importance towards the safety of the 
country, and that the officers, being closely watched, 
could obtain no intelligence that might turn to the 
detriment of Louisiana. He took the earliest oppor* 
tunity, after the agitation among the crews had sub- 



Hl&TOmtAh MEMOIR. 19 

sided, to examine t]}e contents of the packetriit 
which he found a prockiniation addressed by colonel 
Edward Nicbolb, in the service of his Britannic Ma- 
jesty and commander of the land forces on the coast 
of Florida, to the inhabitants of Louisiana, dated M^^ 
fuarters, Pensaeoiaj 29th August^ 1814; a letter from 
the same, directed to Mr. Lafitte, or to the com- 
mandant at Barataria; an official letter from the ho- 
nourable W. H. Percy, captain of the sloop of war 
Hermes, and commander of the naval forces in the 
gulf of Mexico, dated September 1st, 1814, directed 
to himself; and finally, a letter cbntaining orders from 
the same captain Percy, written on the 30th of Au- 
gust on board the Hermes, in the road of Pensacola, 
to the same captain Lockyer commanding the sloop 
of war Sophia. (For these different papers see Ap* 
pendix, No. 3.) 

When Mr. Lafitte had perused these papers, cap- 
tain Lockyer enlarged on the subject of them, and 
proposed to him to enter into the service of his Bri- 
tannic majesty with all those who were under his 
command, or over whom he had sufficient influence; 
and likewise to lay at the disposal of the officers of 
his Britannic majesty the armed vessels he had at 
Barataria, to aid in the intended attack of the fort ci 
Mobile. He insisted much on the great advantages 
that would thence result to himself and his crews; 
offered him the rank of captain in the British service, 
and the sum of thirty thousand dollars, payable, at his 
option, in Pensacola or New Orleans, and urged him 
not to let slip this opportunity of acquiring fortune and 
consideration. On Mr. Lafitte's requiring a few days 



20 HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 

to reflect upon these proposals, captain Lockyer ob- 
served to him that no reflection could be necessary, re- 
specting proposals that obviously precluded hesitation, 
as he was a Frenchman, and of course now a friend 
to Great Britain, proscribed by the American govern- 
ment, exposed to infamy, and had a brother at that 
very time loaded with irons in the jail of New-Or- 
leans. He added, that in the British service he would 
have a fair prospect of promotion; that having such 
a knowledge of the country, his services would be 
of the greatest importance in carrying on the opera- 
tions .which the British government had planned 
against Lower Louisiana; that, as soon as posses- 
sion was obtained, the army would penetrate into 
the upper country, and act in concert with the forces 
in Canada; that every thing was already prepared for 
carrying on the war against the American govern- 
mem in that quarter with unusual vPgour; that they 
were nearly sure of success, expecting to find litde" 
or no opposition from the French and Spanish popu- 
lation of Louisiana, whose interests, manners and 
customs were more congenial with theirs than with 
those of the Americans; that finally, the insurrection 
of the negroes, to whom they would ofler freedom, 
was one of the cliief means they intended to employ, 
being- confident of its success. 

Tq all these splendid promises, all these ensnaring 
insinuations, Mr. Lafitte replied, that in a few days he 
would give a final answer; his object in this procras- 
tination being to gain time to inform the oflicers of 
the state government of this nefarious project. Hav- 
ing occasion to go to some distance for a short time, 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 21 

the persons who had proposed to send the British offi- 
cers prisoners to New-Orleans, went and seized them 
in his absence, and confined botl^them and the crew 
of the pinnaces in a secure place, leaving a guard at 
the door. The British officers sent for Mr. Lafitte;. 
but he, fearing an insurrection of the crews of the pri- 
vateers, thought it advisable not to see them, until he 
had first persuaded their captains and officers to desist 
from the measures on which they seemed bent. With 
this view he represented to the latter that, besides 
the infamy that would attach to them, if they treated 
as prisoners, persons who had come with a flag of 
truce, they would lose the opportunity of discovering 
the extent of the projects of the British against Lou- 
isiana, and learning the names of their agents in the 
country. While Mr. Lafitte was thus endeavour- 
ing to bring over his people to his sentiments, the 
British remained prisoners the whole night, the sloop 
of war continuing at anchor before the pass, waiting 
for the return of the officers. Early the next morn- 
ing, Mr. Lafitte caused them to be released from 
their confinement, and saw them safe aboard their 
pinnace, apologizing for the disagreeable treatment 
they had received, and which it had not been in his 
power to prevent. Shortly after their departure, he 
wrote to captain Lockyer the letter that may be seen 
in the Appendix, No. 4. 

His object in writing that letter was, by appearing 
disposed to accede to their proposal, to give time to 
communicate the afiair to the officers of the state go- 
vernment, and to receive from them instructions how 



23 HISTORICAL MEMOIR* 

to act, under circumstances so critical wd important 
for the country. He accordingly wrote on the 4th 
of September to Mr. Blanque, <Mie of the representa. 
tives of the state, sending him all the papers deliver- 
ed to him by the British officers, with a letter ad- 
dressed to his excellency W. C. C. Claiborne, gover- 
nopof the state of Louisiana. (See Appendix, No. 5.) 
The contents of these letters do honour to Mr. La- 
fitte's judgment, and evince his sincere attachment to 
the American cause. 

Persuaded th^ the country was about to be vi« 
gorously attacked, and knowing that at that time it 
was little prepared for resistance, he did what his duty 
prescribed; apprising government/ of the impending 
danger; tendering his services, dbould it be thought 
expedient to employ the assistance of his crews» 
and desiring instructions how to act; and in case of hi^ 
offers being rejected, he declared his intention to quit 
the country, lest he should be chained with having co- 
operated with the invading enemy. On the receipt of 
tfa^ packet from Mr. Lafitte, Mr. Blanque immediate- 
ly laid its contents before the governor, who convened 
the committee of defence lately formed, of which he 
was president; and Mr. Rancher, the bearer of Mr» 
Lafitte's packet, was sent back with a verbal answer, 
of whidi it is understood that the purport was to de« 
sire him to take no steps until it should be determin- 
ed what was expedient to be done; it is added, that 
the message contained an assurance that, in the mean- 
time, no steps should be taken against him for his 
past offences against the laws of the United States. 



HISTORICAL MSKOIR. 23 

At the exfMration of the time agreed on with cap- 
tttn Loekyer, his ship appeared again on the coast 
with two others, and continued standing off and on 
before the pass for several days. 

Mr. Lafitte now wrote a second letter to Mr. 
B(lam|iie, urging him to send him an answer and 
instructions. (See Appendix No. 6.) In the mean- 
time be appeared not to perceive the return of the 
aloqp qS war, who, tired of waiting to no purpose, 
and mistrusting Mr. Lafitte's intentions, put out tp 
sea and disappeared. 

About this time, Mr. Lafitte received informa- 
tion that instead of accepting his services, and en- 
deavouring to take advantage of the confidence the 
Briti^ had in him, to secure die country against an 
invasion, and defeat all thek* projects, the ccmstituted 
authorities were fitting out at New-Orieans a formi- 
dable expedition against Ban^ria. He dien retired to 
the German coast, where, strictly adhering to the 
principles he had professed, he warned the inhabit* 
ants <^ die danger with which they were threatened 
from the means intended to be employed by the 
enemy. 

About this time, there fell into Mr. Lafitte^s hands 
an anonymous letter directed to a person in New-Or- 
leans, the contents of which left no doubt as to the 
intentions of the British, and which is the more in- 
teresting, as all that it announced has since been fully 
verified. (See Appendix, No. 2.) 

Such are the particulars of the first attempt made 
by the British against Louisiana — an attempt in which 



24 HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 

they employed such unjustifiable arts, that it may 
fairly be inferred that the British government scru- 
ples not to descend to the basest means, when such 
appear likely to contribute to the attainihent of its 
ends. Notwithstanding the solemn professions of 
respect for the persons and property of the inhabit- 
ants, so emphatically made in the proclamation of 
colonel NichoUs, we see that one of their chief 
reliance for the success of operations in Louisiana, 
was on the insurrection of the negroes. Is it not 
then evident from this, that the British were bent on 
the destruction of a country whose rivalship they 
feared in their colonial productions, and that the ca- 
binet of St. James had determined to carry on a 
war of plunder and devastation against Louisiana? 

In coming to Barataria, to endeavour to gain over 
the privateers to their interests, they acted consist- 
ently with their known principles, and on a calcula- 
tion of probabilities; for it was an obvious presump- 
tion that a body of men proscribed in a country whose 
laws they had violated, reflecting on their precarious 
existence, would embrace so favourable an opportu- 
nity of recovering an erect attitude in society, by 
ranging themselves under the banners of a powerful 
nation. But this calculation of the British proved 
fallacious; and in this instance, as in every other, they 
found in every individual in Louisiana, an enemy 
to Britain, ever ready to take up arms against her; 
and those very men, whose aid they so confidently 
expected to obtain, signally proved throughout the 
campaign, particularly in the service of the bat- 



t^rics it Jackson's lines, that the agents of the Bri- 
tish government had formed a very erroneous opinion 
#f them. (See Note No. , 1 , at the end of the volun^e- ) 



The British finding* themselves dislai^pointed^ irt 
their expectation of drawing over to their interests 
the privateersmen of Barataria, concentrated their 
preparations at Pensacola and Apalachicola. In this 
latter place, they had landed not only troops, but alsd 
tWenty-two thousand stand of arms, with ammuni- 
tion, blankets, arid clothing, to b^ distributed among 
the Indians; and it was generally reported at that time, 
that several of their vessels had already sailed for 
Jamaica, to take in black troops. 

General Armstrong, the then secretary of war, by 
a circular letter of the 4th of July, had informed the 
different state governments of the quota of militia 
they were respectively to furnish, pursuant to the 
president's requisition of the same date. (See Ap- 
pendix, No. 7.) On the 6th of August, the go- ^ 
vemor of the state of Louisiana published, conform- 
ably to that requisition, militia general orders, in 
which, after having laid before his constituents the 
views and intentions of the general government, to 
employ an adequate force to* maintain with honour 
the contest in which our country was engaged, he 
exhorted the citizens of the state zealously to Stand 
the necessary draught for completing the thousand 
men demanded by the above mentioned requisitioDv 
(See Appendix, No. 8.) 



26 HISTORICAL MEKOIR. 

All the western and southern newspapers were at 
that time loudly inveighing against the shameful as- 
sistance afforded by the governor of Pensacola to the 
British, at least inasmuch as he suffered the charac- 
ter of his nation to be sullied, by permitting them 
publicly to make hostile preparations in that town, 
where they had established their head-quarters, and 
where they were, if not the nominal, at least the vir- 
tual masters. Such repeated violations, and the suc- 
cours constantly furnished to the Indians, who were 
evidently the allies of our enemy, contributed not a 
little to rouse the national spirit in that part of the 
union, I cannot refrain from giving here an extract 
from one of the papers that appeared about that time, 
in which the writer, after having enumerated all the 
grievances that the United States had to complain of 
against the Spanish governor of Florida, says: " who 
of US' would not prefer to take his fortune as a com- 
mon soldier, to remaining at home in affluence, while 
the community of which he is a member, submits 
tamely, silently and unresistingly to such indignities.'! 
The commander-in-chief of the 7th district, wrote 
to the governor of the state, from fort Jackson, on 
the 15th of August, announcing to him the necessity 
of holding all the forces of Louisiana militia in readi- 
ness to march at the first signal, in consequence of 
the preparations making at Pensacola, of which he 
had received certain information. (See Appendix, 
No. 9.) Conformably to this order, the governor 
published in militia general orders, an extract from 
his letter to the commanders of the two divisions of 
state militia, in which he gave them instructions and 
regulations for their respective divisions. Commo- 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 27 

dore Patterson, commanding the station of New Or- 
leans and its dependencies, received intelligence of 
the appearance of five British ships of war, which had 
landed a small number of men on the point at Dau- 
phine island. 

General Jackson had at this time removed his 
head-quarters to Mobile, from which place he wrote 
to the governor, on the 22d of August, a letter of 
. which the following is an extract: 

" I have no power to stipulate with any particu- 
lar corps, as to particular or local service; but it is 
not to be presumed at present, that the trbops of Lou- 
isiana will have to extend their services beyond the 
limits of their own state. Yet circumstailces might 
ari^, which would make it necessary they should be 
called to face an invading enemy beyond the bounda- 
ry of the state, to stop his entry into their territory.'* 

In consequence of this letter, the governor pub- 
lished, on the 5th of September, militia general or- 
ders, and afterwards general orders, directing the mi- 
litia of the two divisions of the state, to hold them- 
selves in readiness to march, the first division under 
major-general ViUer6, being to be reviewed on the 
lOth of the same month, by major Hughes, assistant 
inspector-general of the district, in the city of New 
Orleans; and the second, under the command of ma- 
jor-genehtl Thomas, to be reviewed at Baton Rouge 
on the first of October. (See Appendix, No. 10.) 

- By another general order, dated New Orleans, 
8th September, governor Claiborne ordered the dif- 
ferent militia companies in the city and suburbs of 
New Orleans, to exercise twice, and those of the 



29 Hl^TjOmiCAt HBUCIR. 

Other parts of the sta.te, once a mreek. He also re- 
Qprnmended to fathers of families, and men whoae 
advanced age exempted them from active service in 
the field, to form themselves U>to corps of veterans, 
choose their own officers, procure arms, and to exer- 
f:t^c occasionally. The governor annoiiAces to his 
fellow citizt^ns the dangers with which the country i^ 
threatened, urging to them that the preservation of 
their property, the repose and tranquillity of their 
families, call on every individual to exert all his ef- 
forts and vigilance; his order enters into minute de- 
tails as to the precautions and police to be observed in 
the existing circumstances; it recommends the great- 
est diligence to be exerted in procuring arms, and 
the greatest care to be taken of them; and finally pre- 
scribes the conduct to be observed by all the militia 
officers, in case of the enemy's penetrating into the 
state, (See Appendix, No, 11.) 

About that time, there appeared a Spanish trans- 
lation of an order of the day published at Pensacola, 
addressed to a detachment of the royal marines at the 
moment of their landing. This piece, written in a 
style of importance that might be used in addressing 
a numerous army, from which might be expected 
the most brilliant military achievements, breathes in- 
veterate hatred agamst the Americans, loudly an- 
nouncing that the object of the expedition is to 
avenge the Spaniards for the pretended insults offered 
them by the United States. 

That document, replete with invectives against 
the American character, contains moreover a strong 
recommendation to sobriety; and from the earnest 



manner in which the author insists on that subject, 
one would be led to believe that the soldiers whom 
he addresses, stood in great need of his exhortations. 
This piece requires no further comment, as it speaks 
for itself; the tone qf falsehood and duplicity that per- 
vades it, lias induced me to publish it, especially as it 
may furnish some features in the portrait of our ene- 
my, (See Appendix, No. 12.) 

On the 16th of September, a meeting of a great 
number of the citizens of New Orleans was held at 
the Exchange Coffee-house, in that city, and by them 
was appointed a committee of defence to co-operate 
with the constituted authorities of the state, and with 
the general government, towards the defence of the 
country. The president of that committee, Mr. Ed- 
ward Livingston, after an eloquent speech, in which 
he showed the expediency of making a solemn decla- 
ration of the patriotic sentiments which prevailed 
^mong the mhabitants of Louisiana, who had, on 
several occasions, been calumniated, and represented 
as disaffected to the American government, and dis« 
posed to transfer their allegiance to a foreign power, 
proposed a spirited resolution which was unanimous- 
ly adopted. (See Appendix, No. 13.) 

This iresolution was, within a few days, followed 
by an address from the committee of defence to 
their fellow citizens. The patriotic sentiments ex- 
pressed in this address, were such as need no 
comment, as the mere perusal of it will suffice to 
evince the spirit which animated the people, of whom 
the committee of defence were on tliat occasion the 
organ. (See Appendix, No. 14.) ^ 



so HISTORICAL M£MOIR. 



FIRST ATTACK ON FORT BOWYER. 

The preparations which the British had been 
long making at Pensacola, where, regardless of the 
rights of neutrality, the Spanish governor permitted 
the enemy of a nation with which his government 
w^s at peace, publicly to recruit, nay, even exercise 
his troops and the savage Indians whom he had en- 
listed, and whom he excited by every means of se- 
duction, to renew the horrid scenes exhibited at fort 
Mims; the little care they took in their proud and 
frantic spirit to conceal their projects; the advanta- 
geous situation of the point of Mobile, as a military 
post, were among the circumstances which made it 
probable that fort Bowyer was the object of the expe- 
dition the British were fitting out at Pensacola. 

Major Lawrence, who commanded that fort, was 
well aware of the means which the enemy intended 
to employ against him; and accordingly he made the 
utmost exertions to put the post confided to him, in 
a condition to make a vigorous resistance; whHe the 
brave garrison under his command ardently longed 
for an opportunity of evincing their zeal and devoted- 
ness for the honour and interest of their beloved coun- 
try. 

Before I enter on the glorious defence made by 
that garrison, it seems proper that I describe the 
situation of fort Bowyer, and that of Mobile point. 
It is indeed unnecessary to show how important 
the occupation of that spot must necessarily have 



HXSTOBICAL MEMOIR. 31 

been ^towards the success of military operations in- 
tended against Louisiana, as. that will sufficiently 
appear from the bare inspection of the map. I will, 
therefore, merely observe that the point of the Mo- 
bile commands the passes at the entrance of the bay, 
and consequently the navigation of the rivers which 
empty into it; that on the eastern side it commands 
the species of archipelago which extends in a paral- 
lel direction as far as the passes Mariana and Christi- 
ana; that from its situation advancing into the gulf, it 
must ever aflford to those who hold it, the means of 
exercising an almost exclusive control over the navi- 
gation of the coast of West Florida; and that its prox- 
imity to Pensacola secures to it a prompt and easy 
communication with that town. 

This point, forming the extremity of a peninsula, 
joined to the continent by an isthmus four miles wide, 
between the river and bay of : Bonsecours and the bay 
Perdido, extends in an east and west direction, in- 
clining a little towards the south, for the space of 
twenty-nine miles in length, from the mouth of the 
Perdido. A large oblong, lake, called Borgne, occu- 
pies the greater portion of its interior towards the 
cast, which, independently of the narrow neck of 
land formed by the two bays, affords in several points 
the fecility of cutting off all communication with the 
continent. The breadth of the peninsula decreases 
as it extends towards the west, so that three miles 
from the point it is only half a. mile wide. This part 
affords another means of defence, of -which the Brit- 
ish availed themselves when they encamped on the 
jpeninsula during their last attack; I mean a ditch or 



couture, tommunicadng widi a lagooiv die whole oc- 
eupyingf upwairdsof half the breadth of the peninsuiai 
dbm^ briars^ and stunted fly trees and live oaks 
grow hi&re'aiid- there on a soil almost enttveiy formed 
of sand and sheDs^ which mis^uf^ gives it a very fintt 
consistency. Within two- miles of the point vege- 
tation cea^s alinost entirely, and the soil becomes a 
succession of downs, ditches, ravines, and* hillocks of 
siand, arid and movmg in some places, and in olherft 
afs hard as beaten ground* These ditches are from 
four to eight feet deep, forming seveml sinuosidesv 
where one sees here and there a few tufts of grass^ 
It is neariy at the extremky of this tongoe of land^ 
on the point rofunding towards the northeaal;, that 
fort Bowyer is situated. The part that is nearest the 
dhore is die angle of t^e north curtain and die semi- 
circular battery facing the pass, and opening a little 
at the distance of fifty yards, cfontiguous to a bluff 
which skirts the peninsula on both skAes^ nearly in its 
whole length. 

Fort Bowyer is a redoubt fbrmed on the sea> 
side, by a semi-circular battery of four hundred feet 
in development, flanked with two curtains sixty feet in 
length, and joined to a bastion whose capital line pass« 
es through the centre of the circular battery. This 
bastion has but thirty-five feet in its gorge, with two 
flanks, each capable of receiving but one piece of ar- 
tillery, and fifty feet in length on its front and rear 
aspects. 

Its interior dimensions are one hundred and 
eighty feet in length from the summit of the bastion 
to the parapet of the circular battery, and two hrni- 



HiSTQllCAii M91iOXB« 33 

<ir€d &et for tlie length of tlie cotfd of die are deocri*. 
bed by the buttery. The rtcedisg anglcA fiormed by 
the curtains with the flanks of the ba^cn md those 
of the battery, c(»ifiiderd>ty diminish the dimen«ons 
of this forty the superficies of which may be estimated 
at twenty-two thousand feet. 

The circular parts and the flanks which jpin it 
to the curtains, have a parapet ftfteen feet thick at 
the summit, and in all the rest of the perimeter of 
th^ fort, the pavapet does not exceed the thickness of 
three feet above the platforms; a fosse twen^ feet 
wide aurrouods the fort, and a very insufficient glacis 
without a covered way completes the fortification. 
The interiw front of tho parapet is formed of pine, a 
resinous wood which a single shell would be sufficient 
to set on fire. The fort is destitute of casemates (the 
only shdtsr from bombs) even for the sick, the am- 
munition cr provisions. To these inconveniencies 
may bemadded the bad situation of the fprt, commandr 
ed by arveml mounds of sand, as above described, at 
the distancff of from two to three hundred yards. 
On the summit of those mounds it would be very 
easy to mount pieces of artilleryi whose slanting fire 
woidd command the inside of the fort. 

From the first information of the preparations 
making by. the ISkitish at Fcinsacola, until the ISth qf 
SepteraJber, on which day four hvgp vessels wer« 
discovered in the offing, the g^son of the fort had 
been constantly employed in putting the fortifications 
in a condition to resist the enemy. Major Lawrence 
now ordered aSk the ao^en of the ggarrisofi to enter 
within the fort, and to keep thioma^ves in readiness 



34 HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 

Ipr action. From that moment the garrison passed 
each night under arms, every man at lus post. 

Before I enter on the particulars of the events 
posterior to the 12th, it may be proper to give a state- 
ment of the strength of the garrison, and of the 
means of defence. 

The garrison consisted of one hundred and thirty 
men including officers, and the whole artillery of 
the fort was twenty pieces of cannon, distributed 
in the following manner: two twenty-fours, six 
twelves, eight nines, and four fours; the twen- 
ty-fours and twelves being alone mounted on 
coast carriages, and all the others on Spanish carri- 
ages little fit for service. One nine-pounder and 
three fours were mounted on the basticm, all the rest 
on the circular battery and its flanks. Those guns 
in the rear bastion and on the flanks, were on tem- 
porary platforms, and the men exposed from their 
knees upwards. 

On the 12th of September^ the sentinel stationed 
towards lake Borgne, reported that on the morning 
of that day the enemy had landed six hundred 
Indians or Spaniards, and one hundred and thirty 
marines, and on the evening of the same day, two 
English sloops of war, with two brigs, came to an- 
chor on the coast, within six miles east of the fort. 

On the 13th, the enemy sent reconnoitring par- 
ties towards the back of the fort, who approached 
to within three quarters of a mile of it. At half after 
twelve, the enemy approached within the distance 
of seven hundred yards, whence they threw against 
the fort three shells and one cannon ball. The shells 



HISTORICAL M£MOIR« 35 

did no injury, having exploded in the air; but the 
ball, which was a twelve pound shot, struck a piece 
of timber that crowned the rampart of the curtdn, 
part of which it carried away and then rebounded. 
The fort returned a few shots in the direction of the 
smoke of the enemy's guns, they being covered by 
the mounds of sand. 

Meanwhile, the enemy, under cover of those 
mounds, retired a mile axfti a half behind the fort, and 
appeared to be employed in raising intrenchments. 
Three discharges of cannon were once more sufficient 
to disperse them* In the afternoon, several light boats 
having attempted to sound the channel nearest the 
point, were forced, by the balls and grape*shot fired 
against them, to return to their ships. 

On the 14th, at six in the morning, the enemy 
still continued at the same distance, apparently em- 
ployed in some works of fortification; the ships like- 
wise remained at the same anchorage. 

On the 15th of September, a day ever memora- 
ble for the garrison of fort Bowyer, the eneipy by 
his movements gave early indications of his intention 
to attack; for by break of day, a very active com* 
munication was perceived between the ships and the 
troops on shore. 

Towards noon, the wind having slackened to a 
light breeze from the southeast, the ships weighed 
anchor and stood out to sea: at two o'clock they 
tacked and bore down against the fort before the 
wind in line of battle, in the channel, the foremost 
ship being die Hermes, on board of which was the 
conunodore, captain Percy. 



36 Hisrosf cjit uMum%. 

Major Lawrenoe seeitog the enemy detertniwd 
cm making a regular attack, called a ooimcil of all hb 
offiaeiB* They .noammoualy agreed to make the 
most obstinate resistance, Tagcm^vsly exerting erery 
means of defence, and came to the firilowing resolu- 
tion: 

'' That in case of being, by imperious necesshy, 
compdled to surrender (which could only happen in 
the last extremity, on the* madparts being entarely 
battered down, and the gairison almost whirfly de- 
strayed, so that any further resistance would be evt- 
dkmtly useless,) ino capitulation dioukl be agreed on, 
unless it had for its fundamental article that the offi. 
cers and privates should retain their arms and their 
private property, and that an no pretext should the 
Indians be so&ped to commit any outrage on their, 
person or property; and unless full assurance were 
given them that they would be treated as prisoners 
of war, accorditig to the custom established among 
civilized nations.'' 

iyi the officers of the garrison unanimously swore, 
in no case, nor on any pretext, to recede from the 
above conditions; and they ptedged themselves to 
each other, that in case of the death of any of them, 
the survivors would still consider themselves bound 
to adhere to what had been resolved on. 

By 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the commodore's 
ship being within the reach of our great guns, a fire 
was opened on her from two twenty-four-pounders, 
but with little effect. The ship then fired one of her 
fore guns, but her shot did not reach the fwt. As 



HI8T01ICAL MSICOXB. 37 

the ships q>peared, all the guns that could be Ivought 
to bear opened on them a brisk fire. 

At half past foar» the Hermes came to anchor 
under our battery, within musket shot of the fort; 
and the other three took their station behind that 
ship, forming a iine of battle in die channel. The 
engagement now became general, and the circular, 
battery kept up a dreadful fire against the most ad- 
vanced ships, idiilst, on the otlier hand, the four 
ships disdiarged s^nst the fort whole broadsides, 
besides frequent single shots. Meanwhile captain 
Woodbine, the person who had enlit ed and trained f 
die Indians in Pensacc4a, opened the fireof a battery ^ 
that he had established behind the bluff on the south* f 
east shore, at the distance of seven hundred yards \ 
from the fdrt. • That battery had one twelve*pounder \ 
and a six-inch howitzer, firing balls and shells: these 
the south battery of the fort socm silenced. It was 
now that the fire on both sides raged with the great- 
est fury; the fort and the ships being enveloped in a | 
blaze of fire and smoke, until half past five, when the \ 
haUards of the commodore's flag were carried away \ 
by a ball, and the flag fell. ^ 

On this major Lawrence, with his characteristic 
humanity, instantly caused the firing to cease, with a 
'view to ascertain the real intention of the enemy, 
who discontinued firing for five minutes; at the ex- 
piration of which, the brig next to the Hermes, dis- 
charged a whole broadside against the fort, and at the 
same time the commodore hoisted a new flag. All 
the guns of the battery being at that moment loaded, 
they were all fired at once, and produced such a com- 



38 HISTOBICAI MEKOIB. 

motion that it shook the ground. . A few moments 
of silence succeeded* The enemy began to perceive 
the effect his conduct had on the minds of the garri- 
son, who indignant at the manner in which the ^tish 
made war, resolved, from the moment of the flag's 
being replaced, to bury themselves under die ruins 
of the fort, rather than surrender. The fire being 
renewed, continued for some time on both sides with 
the same violence. The Hermes having had herca- 
ble^cut, was carried away by the current, and pre- 
sented her head to the fort, and in that position she 
remained from fifteen to twenty minutes, whilst the 
raking fire of the fort swept fore and aft almost every 
thing on deck. At the moment when the fire was 
most intense, the flagstaff was carried away. This 
the British plainly perceived; bi!lt instead of following 
the example of major Lawrence, in. suspending their 
fire, they redoubled it, and each of the ships discharg- 
ed her whole broadside against the fort. 

Major Lawrence immediately hoisted another flag 
on the edge of the parapet, having fastened it to a 
sponge-staff. 

No sooner had the flag of the fort fallen, than the 
enemy's troops on shore advanced towards the fort, 
believing it had surrendered; but a few discharges 
of grape-shot soon convinced them of their error, 
and forced them to retire again behind the mounds 
of sand. The Hermes no longer holding by her ca- 
ble, drifted with the current about half a mile, and 
having run aground on the bank, tlie commodore set 
her on fire. The brig that was next in the line to 
the Hermes, had suffered so much, that it was with 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. ' 39 

difficully she could retire beyond the reach of the 
guns of the fort; but at last the three remaining ships 
got out to sea. The fort continued firing on the 
Hermes until night, by which tUle she appeared in 
flames, and burned until eleven, when the fire having 
reached the powder, she blew up with a tremendous 
explosion. 

During the action, two of the guns of the fort 
were dismounted, and one broken off by a thirty-two 
pound ball, and another burst. I must observe, that 
of tlie whole number of guns that were in the fort, 
eight could not be brought to bear on the ships, and 
that the greaterpart of the men who served at the guns, 
belonged to the infantry, and had never seen artillery 
service before they wtre stationed at fort Bowyer: 
several of their officers also were little acquainted with 
artillery. (See Atlas, plate No. 3.) 

To form a just estimate of the mqrit of the brave 
garrison of fort Bowyer, it is necessary to know the 
force they had to contend against; I therefore give 
here the statement of that force, as follows: 

The ship Hermes of 28 32-pound carronades. 

The ship Caron 28 do. 

The brig Sophia 18 do. 

The Anaconda 16 do. 

90 guns. 

A land battery, one 12 pound- 7 o 
eranda6inchhov(ritzer. 3 

Total pieces of artillery 92 



40 iilSTaHICAI. UBHOlJk. 

Th(^ eaemy's fc»x:e in men was as foUows: 
The Hermes bad 175 men 

The Caron 175 do. 

the Sophia *• 125 do. 

The Anaeonda 115 do. 

600 

Marines 130 / 

Indians 600 

730 



The whole effective force 1330 men. 

From the above statement, the proportion appears 
to have been above ten to one; and five to one pieces 
of artiUery. 

The loss sustained by the garrison was four kil- 
led and four wounded. That of the enemy was: 
On board the four ships killed 160 
Wounded 70 

OnlandkUled 2 

Total 232 
The proportion appears thus to Ibe twenty-nine 
killed on the side of the British to one on the side of 
the garrison. 

Such was the result of the expedition fitted out 
at Pensacola with the greatest care, and with all man- 
ner of assistance on the part of the Spaniards. 

This victory of the American arms over the Bri- 
tish troops under such circumstances, with so extra- 
ordinary a disproportion of force and of loss, was but 
the harbinger of the brilliant successes whick the sons 
of liberty were very soon to obtain on the banks of the 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 41 

Mississippi, and of the humiliation that awaited Bri- 
tish pride. 

Commodore Percy relied so much on the superi- 
ority of the number of troops with which he was 
about to attack fort Bowyer, that he made no secret 
of his intention to allow the garrison but twenty mi- 
nutes to capitulate. But how wofuUy he was disap- 
pointed in his expectations! 

Instead of the laurels he was so confident of gather- 
ing, he carried off the shame of having been repuls- 
ed by a handful of men, inferior by nine-tenths to the 
forces he commanded. Instead of possessing him- 
self of an important point, very advantageous for the 
military operations contemplated by his government, 
he left under the guns of fort Bowyer the wrecks of 
hb own vessel, and the dead bodies of one hundred 
and sixty-two of his men. Instead of returning to 
Pensaoola in triumph, offering the Spaniards, as a re- 
ward of their good wishes and assistance, a portion of 
the laurels obtained, and the pleasure of seeing the 
American prisoners he was confident of taking, he 
brought back to that port, which had witnessed his 
extravagant boasting, nothing but three shattered 
vessels full of wounded men. 

The Spaniards, too timid and too weak to dare to 
attempt any thing by themselves, saw in the British 
avengers sent to realize the chimerical dreams with 
which they had fondly suffered themselves to be de- 
luded. At the Havanna, in Pensacola, and even in 
New Orleans, six months before the attack on fort 
Bowyer, it had been currendy reported that the time 
was not far off when the Spanish government was to 

G 



42 HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 

recover possession of that part of Florida annexed to 
the state of Louisiana and to the Mississippi territory. 

Too prudent to attempt any thing without being 
sure of success, too weak for any undertaking by 
themselves, the Spaniards relied on the English for 
the recovery, without danger to them, of that which, 
with so little foundation, they claimed as a portion 
of their territory. 

This guile and duplicity of the Spaniards, was 
seen through by the Americans, and it will hereafter 
appear that the commander of the seventh military 
district of the United States, thought it his duty to 
put a stop to their infamous proceedings. 

The important service rendered by the garrison 
of fort Bowyer could not fail to be justly estimated. 
On the 17th general Jackson, then at Mobile, wrote 
a complimentary letter to major Lawrence, expres- 
sive of the joy he felt on hearing of the glorious de- 
fence made by the garrison under his command, and 
acquainting him that he had despatched information 
of it to the general government, who would not fail 
duly to reward the brave defenders of the rights and 
honour of the American people. 

The New Orleans committee of defence resolved 
that their president, Edward Livingston, esqr, should 
be directed to write in their name to major Lawrence, 
to assure him of the sentiments of gratitude and joy 
with which the inhabitants of that city had learned 
the gallant defence of fort Bowyer, and the impor- 
tant service rendered by the garrison, not only to 
Louisiana, but to the whole union, in preserving to 
them so important a point. At the same time it was 



filSTORICAt MEMOIR^ 43 

resolved that, in testimony of these sentiments, there 
should be presented to major Lawrence a sword 
adorned with suitable emblems. (See Appendix, 
No. iS.) - 

On the 21st of September, major-general Jack- 
son, whose head-quarters wert at that time at Mobile, 
issued a proclamation to the inhabitants of Louisiana, 
in which he sets forth the perfidious conduct of the 
British on our coasts, and the proposal made to the 
privateers of Barataria, to join them, and rally round 
their standard. That proclamation announces to the 
Louisianians that the government and the general 
rely on their zealous assistance in repelling the enemy, 
should he dare to set foot on our soil. (See Appendix 
No. 16.) On the same day, general Jackson issued a 
proclamation addressed to the free men of colour of 
Louisiana, inviting them to unite under the banners 
of their country for the purpose of contributing to its 
defence. That proclamation refers them to governor 
Claiborne for instructions as to the mode of forming 
•orps. (See Appendist, No. 17.) 

The spirit of patriotism and zeal which had been 
evinced with so much ardour for the defence of the 
country, in Tennessee, by the levying of the troops 
that had already joined general Jackson, and were 
encamped on the Alabama, under the command of 
general CofiFee, was again manifested in the further 
levy of fi.ve thousand men, which took place in that 
state about the middle of Ootober. The general 
government had received information that the enemy 
was preparing an expedition against the state of Lou- 
isiana, by the. way of Mobile, and that his intention 



44 HISTOAXCAL JfEMOIl. ^ 

was to obtain possession of all the coast, from cape 
Florida, as far as the Spanish provinces to the west of 
the Mississippi. 



EXPEDITION AGAINST PENSACOLA. 

The Creek Indians in the year 18JL3 had been de- 
feated and routed by a body of the Tennessee militia 
commanded by major general Andrew Jackson, and 
deputies of the Creek nation having sued for peace, 
had agreed to meet him or some American commis- 
sioners on the 10th of August 1814, to determine 
the boundaries of their nation with the United States. 
The treaty, as now in force, was settled; but a cer- 
tain proportion of the Creeks having refused to par- 
ticipate in it, i*emained still at war with the United 
States, committing depredations on our settlements 
on the Alabama, the Tombigbee, and Mobile bay, and 
they were aided and abetted by the Spaniards, who 
supplied them with arms and ammunition, and receiv- 
ed in Pensacola the property plundered from our citi- 
zens. General Jackson demanded satisfaction from 
the Spanish governor of Pensacola, who in a haughty 
answer said, that he would protect, clothe and arm, his 
Indians (as he termed them) — that in the ensuing fall 
he would expatiate more largely on the subject, evi- 
dently alluding to the intended attack of the south- 
ern states by the British. The messenger who 
brought this answer had hardly arrived, when a Bri- 
tish force, allied with the Creek Indians, came from 
Pensacola and attacked, on the 15th September 1814, 



BI$V0B1CAI» MEXOIR- 45 

£oit Bowyer on Molnle Foint; and after having been 
repulsed, as has been above related, with the los9 
€^ a ship and a great number of men, they returned 
to Pensacola, and there were received, as the friends 
and allies of the Spaniards, who suffered them to gar- 
rison their forts, and even arrested and confined some 
American citizens, who were suspected of being un- 
friendly to the British government. 

Major-general Jackson, to put an end to this 
breach of the law of nations, determined to take 
possession of Pensacola, thereby to deprive the Indi*^ 
ans and their British allies of a place of shelter and 
refuge, after their aggressions on our territory. He 
accordingly assembled, near fort Montgomery on the 
Alabama, an army of about four thousand men, com- 
posed of detachments of the 3d, 39th, and 44th rcr 
giments of mfantry, the militia of Tennessee, and a 
battalion of volunteer dragoons of the Mississippi ter- 
ritory. 

A detachment of cavalry under lieutenant Mur- 
ray of the Mississippi dragoons were sent to recon- 
noitre. They made prisoners a Spanish advanced 
picket, but could perceive nothing; and lieutenant 
Murray having imprudently followed alone an Indian 
whom he saw at some distance, was shot by him. He 
was regretted as a brave and excellent officer. The 
army arrived on the 6th of November 1814, within 
two miles of Pensacola. (See Atlas, plate No. 2.) 

Major-general Jackson despatched major Peire to 
the governor with a summons; but when that officer 
was at about two or three hundred yards d&bmce of 
fort St. Michael, in defiance of the sacred laws of na- 



46 HISTORICAL lt£kOI&. 

tionsy he was ftred upon from a twelve-pounder, al- 
though his character, as a flag of truce, could not be 
mistaken, he having a large white flag and approach* 
ing alone; major Peire, after having reconnoitred the 
fort and seen it occupied by British troops, reported 
to the commanding general, who had been previously 
informed that two flags (one Spanish the other British) 
had been displayed on the walls of the fort, and that 
the latter had only been withdrawn the day before 
the arrival of the American army; and making no 
doubt that this wanton behaviour towards the sacred 
character of a flag of truce, was only to be attributed 
to the British, who, doubtless, did not wish to be seen 
in the act of violating the neutrality of the Spanish 
territor}', the major-general impelled by a sense of hu- 
manity towards the oppressed Spaniards sent a letter 
by a prisoner, to the governor, demanding anexpla^ 
nation and satisfaction of the affront offered to his flag. 
The army was at the same time encamped one 
mile and a half from the town. The Spanish governor 
immediately despatched an officer with assurances of 
his not having had any participation in the transac- 
tion of the morning, and added that if the major-ge« 
neral was pleased to renew the c(^munication, he 
pledged himself that his messenger should be receiv- 
ed with due respect. Major. Peire went again at 
midnight, with instructions. The governor having 
assembled his principal officers, was informed of the 
conditions proposed by general Jackson, viz: to re- 
ceive an Anierican garrison in the forts St. Michael 
and Barrancas, until the Spanish government could 
procure a sufficient force to enable them to maintain 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 47 

their neutrality against its violation by the British who 
had po^sessed themselves of the fortresses, notwith- 
standing the remonstrances and protest of the Spa- 
nish governor. That the American forces should be 
.withdrawn as soon as such a respectable force should 
arrive. These conditions having been refused, ma- 
jor Peire declared, agreeably to his instructions, that 
however reluctant to the feelings of the general, re- 
course would be had to arms. 

On his return, the 7th November, 1814, three 
thousand men were marched from the encampment 
inthreecolumns: the centre, composed of detachments 
of the 39th and 44th regiments of infantry, command- 
ed by major WoodruflF, and two pieces of artillery. 
The right column, composed of general Coffee^s vo- 
lunteers of Tennessee, and the left of the drafted mi- 
litia of Tennessee an(l the Chactaw Indians, command- 
ed by major Blue, marched in the rear, with a batta- 
lion of volunteer dragoons of the Mississippi territo- 
ry, under major Hinds. 

The column was directed to proceed along the sea 
beach towards the eastward of the town, to avoid pass- 
ing under the fire of fort St. Michael; when in sight of 
the town, the sand proving too heavy for the artillery 
to make any progress, the centre colunooi was ordered 
to charge, which was done in the most gallant manner. 
As soon as the head of the column appeared in the 
principal street, a Spanish battery of two pieces was 
opened against them, but was immediately carried at 
the point of the bayonet, with the loss of eleven men 
killed and wounded; amcMigst the latter were the gal- 
lant captain LavaT^f the Sd, and lieutenant Floumoy 



48 HISTORICAL^ MEMOIK. 

of the 44tfa regiment. The Spaniards lost only a 
few men, four killed and six wounded; the American 
soldiers, with that mild disposition wluch character- 
izes the brave, having spared die vanquished. 

The governor of Pensacola, don Gonzales Man- 
riques, having sent a flag. of truce to the American 
general, hostilities immediately ceased, and it was 
agreed that the block houses in town, fort St. Midiad, 
and Barrancas, should receive an American garrison. 
But the commandant of fort St. Michael refused to 
obey the order of the governor. The general sent 
him a summons offering him the same advantageous 
propositions which had be^n made the night before, 
and giving him half an hour to determine; and having 
given the command <^ the town to major Peire and 
lefit him eight hundred men, with instructions to get 
possession of the fort before ni^t, either by negoci* 
ating or by force, retired to hb camp with the remain- 
der of the troops. As he left die town, the British 
shipping attempted to annoy him with long ^ns, but 
without e£kct. 

It was of die utmost importance that the forts 
should be taken possession of bef<M*e morning, as 
the British frigate the Seahorse, the Sophia sloop 
of war, and^he ■ ' had springs to their ca- 
bles and were ready either to set fire to the town 
or eflFect a landing. The following measures were 
taken. Two companies, widi three pieces of can- 
non, under the command of captain Denkins, were 
placed on mount St. Bematdra position which com- 
mands fort St. Michael, and five hundred men were 
placed on the beach to oppose a landing if attempted. 
At six o'clock P. M. colonel Sotto, commandant of 



HISTORXCAl MEMOIR. 49 

f^ St. Michael, after having sent by two captains a 
verbal acceptance of the conditions offered him, refu'> 
sed to receive captain Denkins with his command, 
whom major Peire had sent to take possession of 
the fort, saying they could not evacuate it before 
morning. These delays and the bad faith of the" 
Spanish commandant were evidently designed to give; 
the British time to prepare to come to their assistance* 
This did not escape the American commandant, who 
ordered captain Denkins to commence an cflfack up- 
on the fort immediately, and was about to march his 
forces to storm the place, when colonel Sotto, aware ' 
of the consequences, surrendered, under the same 
conditions proposed at first by the general in chief— ^ 
and possession was taken of the fort at eleven o'clock "^ 
P. M. On the same afternoon a batteiy called St 
Rose, situated opposite fort Barrancas at the entrance 
of the bay, was blown up by the Spaniards. 

It is here worthy of remark that property was 
respected and good order and decorum as much ob- 
served as if the American troops had entered a friend- 
ly town; and although it had been taken by storm, 
not a single act of insubordination was complained 
of. The Spaniards were so much pleased with this 
behaviour, that they expressed their admiration and 
astonishment, at being better treated by the Ameri- 
cans, who seemingly had entered their town as foes, 
than by their British allies and friends, who used 
ihem very cavalierly and secreted on board their ships 
nearly four hundred slaves, who had ran away from 
their masters.,and who, notwithstanding acvere remon- 



50 UXSTOEICAL MEMOIR. 

stranccs and repeated applications from the Spanish 
authorities, refused to restore them. 

Next morning, the 8th, the governor having been 
applied to, for hb order to the commandant of the 
Barrancas to receive an American garrison, refused 
to give it, alleging that it would not be obeyed* 
General Jackson then resolved to go down and take 
that fortress. The Barrancas is a strong battery, of 
» twenty-four pounders, and t<^l|hcr with 
fort St. Rose, on a small island situated opposite, com« 
mands e&ctually the entrance of Pensacola bay; but . 
on the land side it is not so well defended. Prepara- 
tions were making to march the army down to take that 
fort; when in the evening, an explosion was heard and 
flamed were seen proceeding from the same direction. 
General Jackson soon heard by a prisoner, (which af- 
terwards proved to be the fact, the general having 
sent to the spot to reconnoitre) that the British had 
persuaded the Spanish commandant to blow up the 
fortifications, and to retreat to the Havanna, with all 
his force, amounting to three or four hundred men. 

The British shipping by this occurrence dropped 
down unmolested, and put to sea. The foUomng 
was the situation of affairs. The British expelled 
from Pensacola bay; the Indians wandering hi those 
low islands, perishing for want of food; the Spaniards 
punished for their want of good faith, and taught by 
sad experience, that they could not expect to injure 
their peaceable neighbours with impunity. On the 
other hand, the American army, composed of about 
four thousand men, of whom one thousand were 
mounted, could be supplied only by land conveyance 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 51 

(the British commanding the sea) from a ccmntry 
which was itself in want of provisions: — the whiter 
was setting in. — The object of the expedition being 
accomplished, the major-general seeing that the pre- 
sence of most of the troops would be wanted for the 
defence of New Orleans, determined to withdraw 
the(n from the Spanish territwy, and march the army 
back to Mobile and New Orleans. The army set 
out on the 9th of November, for fort Montgomery on 
the Alabama, whence the troops were marched to 
their respective destinations, and the general, after 
liaving made some dispositions at Mobile for the 
protection of that place, set out the 21st November, 
by land, and arrived at New Orleans the 2d of De- 
cember, 1814. 



The legislature of the state of Louisiana, which 
had convened by the governor's proclamation of the 
5th of October, met on the 10th of November. The 
following day, the governor delivered to both houses, 
a speech, on which the limits of this work do not 
permit us to enlai^; we shall, therefore, merely ob- 
serve, that after taking a cursory view of the military 
events that had taken place fit>m the commencement 
of the war, and particularly during the last campaign, 
the governor informed the legislature of the well- 
founded apprehensions entertained of an attack on 
Louisiana by the British, with a force, as was pre- 
sumed, of from twelve to fifteen thousand men. The 
governor next entered into minute details as to the 



52 HISTORICAI. MEMOXE. 

forces we had to oppose to those of the enemy. He 
informed the legislature, that the troc^ which had 
sdready taken the field, were shortly to be joined by 
considerable reinforcements of Tennessee and Ken- 
tucky militia. He expressed his satis&ction at the 
zeal, patriotism, and military ardour, displayed by the 
inhabitants of the country, in this critical conjuncture; 
commended the alacrity with which the several militia 
officers had efiected the levy of the quota of militia 
called out; and bestowed particular exfxessions of 
commendation, on the zeal of the inhatntants of Attak- 
apas and Feliciana, who had abready formed two 
companies of cavalry. 

The governor finally recommended to the kgisla* 
ture to order the expenses to be incurred by the move- 
ments of the militia, in the event of the enemy's efiiect. 
ing a landing in any part of the state, to be advanced 
out of the state treasury, saving a claim on the general 
government for the reimbursement of the sums ad- 
vanced. 

On tlie 2d of December, general Jackson arrived 
at New Orleans, where he established his head-quar- 
ters. On the same day he reviewed the battalion of 
the uniform companies of New Orleans militia, com- 
manded by major Daquin. The military appearance 
of tliose companies, completely equipped, and the 
precision of their manoeuvres, gave the general great 
pleasure, and he testified his satisfaction to the offi- 
cers. From that day the general foresaw what he 
might exi^ect from that gallant battalion; and we shall 
see in the course of the campaign that it realized hh 
expectations. 






HISTORICAL MEMOIK. 5t 

I 

The situation of our country at that period, owing 
to the proximity of the enemy — ^the number of whose 
ships of war on our coast was daily increasing — ^was 
critical in the extreme: but the unbounded confidence 
which the nation in general had in the talents of gene- 
ral Jackson, made us all look up to that officer, as a 
commander destined to lead our troops to victory, 
and to save our country. It is hardly possible to form 
an idea of the change which his arrival produced on 
the minds of the people. Hitherto partial attempts 
liad been made to adopt measures of defence; the 
legislature had appointed a joint committee of both 
houses, to concert with the goveminr, commodore 
Patterson, and the military commandant, such mea- 
sures as they should deemmostexpedient; bi^nothing 
had been done. There was wanting that concen- 
tration of power, so necessary for the success of mili-v 
taiy operations. The citizens, having very little con- 
fidence in their civil ch: military authorities, for the 
defence of the country, were filled with distrust and 
^oomy apprehension. Miserable disputes on account 
of two difier^it committees of defence; disputes, un- 
fortunately countenanced by the presence and influ- 
ence of several public officers, had driven the peo- 
ple to despondency; they comjdiained, and not with- 
out caus^, that the legislature wasted time, and con- 
sumed the money of the state, in idle discussions on 
empty formalities of election, while all their time, and 
all the wealth they squandered, might be profitably 
employed in the defence of the country. Credit 
Wc s annihilated — already for several months had the 
banks suspended the payment of their notes; to sup- 



54 UIsrORICAL M£MOIR« 

ply the want of specie, one and three dollar notes had 
been issued, and dollars had been cut as a substitute 
for small change* On the banks' refusing specie, 
the monied men had drawn in their funds, which 
they no longer lent out, without an usurious interest 
of three or four per cent, per mmidi. Every one was 
distressed; confidence had ceased; and with it, almost 
every species of business. 

Our situation seemed desperate. In case of an 
attack, we could hope to be saved only by a miracle, 1 
CM* by the wisdom and genius of a commander-in* 
chief. Accordingly, on his arrival, he was immedi- 
ately invested with the confidence of the public, and 
all hope centered in him. We shall, hereafter, see how 
amply he merited the confidence which he inspired. 

With his usual activity, adhering to his constant 
practice of seeing every thing himself, as fiir as prac- 
ticable, general Jackson, the second day after his ar- 
rival, set out to visit fort St. Philip, at Plaquemines, 
and to examine what parts of the river below New 
Orleans, it might be expedient to fortify. Previous- 
ly to his departure,, he had sent orders to governor 
Claiborne to cause all the bayous leading from the 
ocean into the interior of the country, to be obstruct- 
ed. This measure had been ordered to be executed 
along the whole coast, from Attakapas to Chef-Men- 
teur and Manchac. 

On visiting fort St. Philip, the general ordered 
the demolition of the wooden barracks within the fort, 
several additional pieces of artillery to be mounted on 
the rampart, and a thirty-two pounder and a mortar 
in the covered way. He also ordered two batteries 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. SS 

to be constructed, the one opposite the fort on tht 
right bank, on the site of the former fort Bourbon, 
and the other half a mile above the fort, and on the 
same bank. These batteries were to be mounted 
with twenty.four pounders. The latter, in particu- 
lar, was in a situation extremely advantageous for 
commanding the river, and could join its fire with 
that of fort St. Philip. 

On his return to New Orleans, the general ordered 
me to draw out the necessary plans for those two 
liatteries, which plans being drawn out and approved 
of by him, the necessary measures were taken for 
putting them into immediate execution. Genieral 
Jackson proceeded to visit Chef-Menteur, and having 
gone as far as the confluence of the bayou Sauvage 
and the river of Chef-Menteur, he ordered the erec- 
tion of a battery at that point. 

In the evening of the 13th of December, commo- 
dore Patterson received information that the naval 
forces of the enemy at anchor at Ship island, were 
increased to thirty sail, of which six were ships of 
the line; that others were every moment arriving, es- 
pecially a number of light vessels, calculated for 
navigating on our coast where there is but little water, 
land that th^ enemy appeared to be sounding the 
passes. 

The general wrote on the 10th to the govamor of 
the state, and informed him of his return from visiting 
the posts down the river as far as fort St. Philip, In that 
letter he observes that tlie river is capable of being 
well defended, provided suitable batteries be raised 
on its banks; and that he has fixed on the points on 



f6 



HISTORICAL MEHOIK. 



^hich they ought to be erected The general prd- 
poses to the governor to call on the patriotism of the 
members of the legislature, to assist him in the pre- 
sent conjuncture, with all the means in their power. 
As the works to be raised chiefly consist of earth 
thrown up, he is of opinion that it would be expe- 
dient to sug^st to the planters the propriety of fur* 
nishing their gangs of negroes^ to be employed for a 
certain time in those works. He thinks the impor- 
tance of the subject worthy the immediate attention 
of the legislature, who, he hopes, will not delay a mo- 
ment to furnish means for putting the country in a 
state of defence, by the erection of the fortifications 
contemplated. These, when completed, the general 
thinks, will secure the river against the attacks of the 
enemy; but not a moment, says he, is to be lost in , 
perfecting the defence of tlie Mississippi. With 
vigour, energy, and expedition, all is safe; delay may 
lose all. 

The general concludes by requesting the governor 
to let him know, as soon as possible, what the legisla- 
ture is disposed to do, to assist him in erecting the for- 
tifications; he instances to him as a bright example, 
what had been done in New York. In case the legisla- 
ture should not be able to realize the expectations he 
had conceived from their patriotism, the general wishes 
to know it, that he may make arrangemefnts according 
to the means he possesses, for the defence of the 
country. 

On the 14th of December, governor Claiborne 
addressed a circular letter to the inhabitants of the 
parishes of Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St, Charles, and 
St. John the Baptist, informing them of a resolution 



HISTORICAL HBMOlft. 57 

pasaed by tbe legislature^ requiiing the governor to 
pall upon the lahabitantB ci such parishes as he might 
think proper, to send all such male negroes as they 
could diq>ose of to fort St. Charles or to the En^ 
glish Turn, to be thence sent to the different points 
that might be judged proper to be fortified, there to 
work on the fortifications. The governor in his cir* 
cular letter, makes knowti to the inhabitants, that the 
state is in danger, that the enemy is in consaderabls 
force on our coast, and that hfe movements in<fi- 
catt a disposition to luid. He concludes by ex« 
pressing bis reliance on the patriotism of the in* 
habitants, and his hopes that in the hour of peril, the 
voice of government vriH be listened to and respect- 
ed by every good citizen. 

CAPTURE OF THE GUN-BQATS. 

The arrival of a great- nun^r of the enemy's 
ships of various force on our easitem co^st, sufficiently 
announced the intention of the British, soon to make 
an attack in ^is quarter. Commodoue Daniel T. 
Patterson, comnuuMUng tl^ New Qrleaos station, 
had reoeived from Fensacola, a letter, doted the 5th 
of December, informing him oi ^ arrival qf trntf 
Bail of British vessels, «id of a sCitt gBtat^r nt|f|i. 
ber being ^xpectefl; that thqse vtstaete had on board 
a considerable number of troops destiniid to act 
against New Orieans. {See A{qp<ttdtx, No. ISO 
On diis informaticu), the coippupdow had sent five 
gun«boat9, one tender^ and a despatch boat, towards 
the passes Mariana andChristiana^tawadcihtheieiW- 



58 UISTOBICAL MEMOIR* 

my's movements in diat qoarter. The command of 
. thb'flotilla was given to Thomas Asp. Catesby Jones, 
^ho hoisted his flag on board gun-boat No. .156. 
Commodore Patterson's instruetions directed thaty 
if possible, it woold be well to wait for the enemy's 
barges, lanches, and pinnaces on the outside of the 
Rigolets; that perhaps the enemy would endeavour 
to cut off the gun-boats widi his small craft, and that 
if his forces were too considecable, it was not advisa- 
ble to remain too long at the same anchoring ground, 
at that time between Ship and Cat islands, and 
that it was important to secure a retreat at the Rigo- 
lets, where they must wait for the enemy, and sink 
him or be sunk. The commodore particularly re- 
commended the most vigilant attention in watehing 
the enemy's movements, directing information there- 
of to be sent to him as frequently as possible. 

Pursuant to his instnicdons, lieutenant Jones had 
detached gun-boats No. 23, lieutenant M^Keever, 
and No. 163, sailing-master Ulrick, to Daupi^ne 
island. On the 9th of December, these two vessels 
being at anchw within the idand, espied two ships 
of war out at sea, steering westward. The two gun- 
boats immediately .set . sail^ and accompanied them, 
keeping within the island till night; when the ships 
appeared to come to an anchor^ the gun-boat» continu- 
ed on their course, oiid joined company, opposite Bi> 
loxi, with the three other gun-boeta Nos. 5, 156 and 
168, which composed the whole flotilla. They made 
sail the whole night, apprehending that if they remain- 
ed at anchor, the aiemy might send barges in the 
ni^td take them* 



On the lOtb, by break of day^th^ discovered an 
entire fleet of the enemy's vessels at anchor in the 
channel between Cat-island and Ship-island; on which 
the gun-boats made for pass Mariana, within which 
they anchored, and received provisions from the bay 
St. Louis. 

On the 11th th^ remained at anchor the whole 
day, and put the gun-boats in the best condition to 
sustain an attack; and on the 12di they made sail 
towards the eastern point of Cat-island, whence they 
discovei^ the enemy's fleet so considerably increas- 
ed, that it would have been imprudent to ccmtinue any 
longer where they then were. 

On the 13th the gun-boats sailed for Ae bay St. 
Louis. At 4 ' o'clock in the afternoon were disco- 
vered a considerable number of the enemy's l>ai^s 
making for pass Christiana; upon which, agreeably to 
instructions, the gun-boats endeavoured to make for 
the Rigolets; but the wind having died away, and the 
current making strong towards the east, they could 
get no farther than die channel between the main 
land and Isle aux Malheureux, where they were 
obliged to come to an anchor about 2 after midnight. 
Sailing-master Johnson, commanding the Sea- 
horse tender, was then in the bay St. Louis for the 
purpose of protecting the public stores established on 
its western shore, when he was attacked that same day 
by several of the enemy's barges. He was supported 
m his defence by a battery of two six-pounders, and 
some of the enemy's barges were destroyed; but 
at last captain Johnson was forced to yield to num- 
bers, and set fire to his vessel, as likewise to the public 



60 iriftT6BICA& utvoxt. 

started to prirmt ibxit fallmg ifatp tte hand! of the 
enemy. 

On tte litby by break of day, Were disooferedy 
five tBiks to the eastward, ci gitat number of barges 
fmxned ia a line, which came to and laid dn their 
grapUngs for about fifteen minutes, after which they 
' advanced in a line of about for^-five barges and Other 
craft in front, to attack the gun-boats. Lieutenant 
M'Kefever's, No. SS^ carrying h diirty^two pounder, 
tiled immediately to fire on the baiges, but the ball 
could not reach them. ' A small division of them 
made for the tender Alligator^ which had been pre- 
vented by the calm from joinii^ the gun-boats, and 
was at anchK^ two miles from them, to the southeast of 
Malbeureux island. Havkig taken the Alligator, the 
division rejoined the flotilla, which continued to ad- 
vance in line of batde, until they got so near that the 
fire from the gun-boats began to produce some confu- 
sion; on which they separated into three divisions. One 
of these consisting of fifteen barges, attacked commo- 
dore Jones's gun-boat. No. 156, at anchor half a ca- 
ble's length from the others, in the centre towards 
the enemy. The others divided so as to attack all 
the gun-boats at once. By half after eleven in the 
forenoon, the attack became general, and after three 
quarters c^ an hour of a most vigorous resistance^ 
made by one hundred and eighty -two men, including 
officers distributed in the different gun-boats, against 
about twelve hundred of the enemy in very large 
barges and other craft, carrying nine and twelve- 
pounders and twenty-four pound carronades, the gun- 
boats were forced to strike, after having lost six men, 



and thiity.fvfe being woaficfed^ many of them se^ 
verely. (See Adas^ plate No. 4.) 

Lieutenant Jones Who cbmrnauidcd the flotilla, 
WHS wounded in die left shbtilden Lieutenant R. 
Spidden w^ wounded in both hib arms^ one of which 
it was nec^sary to amputate; and lieutenant M^Kee- 
ver was also wounded, but slightly. The ene- 
my having got possessiim Of one of the gun*.boatSy 
fired sev^erai shot ftom hear Upon the others, without 
atrikbg the American flag. The enemy's loss was 
very coDsiderable* aniountitig, it is supposed, to up- 
wards of three hundred men. Nor will this estimate 
'iq^ypear exaggerated when it is considered that a great 
number of barges and lanches were sunk» One of 
the latter, With a ereW of one hundred and eighty men, 
went dowti astern of No. 156. 

In the report made by lieuteiumt Jones to commo- 
dore Patterson, (see Ap^tidix No49) and transmit- 
ted by the latter to the secretary of war, may be seen 
dl the partkubursof the obstikiate resistance made l^ 
tte oficera and crews of the gun43oats» notwithttand- 
itig the dibadTantageotts circumstances under which 
Acy were attadced. -Amongst these was a very strong 
current running against them, while several of them 
were sunk eighteen inches in the mvd, so that it was 
impossible to manoeavre agaiost barges almost as large 
as the guni-boats themselves* It is presumable that 
had not ttie wind died away, the gun^ boats under sail, 
would have destroyed the flotilla, though numerous 
and well syrmed. The British during the fight ma- 
ncBuvred very skilfulty, and as soon as they became 



%2 HISTOEICAL MEMOXK'. 

masters of any gun-boat, they directed her fire^;ainst 
such of the others as had not struck. 

The observation, which a due regard to tnidi com- 
pelled me to make at the b^inning of this work, re* 
specting the defenceless state in which Loubianawas 
found at the time of its inva^on, here forces itself 
again upon me. But it is far from my intention to im^ 
pute any fault to those whose conduct exempted them 
from censure. Probably a concurrence of untoward 
circumstances, unknown to me, may have occasioned 
the apparent neglect of Louisiana. No one is more 
disposed than I am to render justice to the patriotism, 
activity and zeal displayed by the heads of the differ- 
ent departments of our administration during ibt 
whole course of the war, which is now so happily ter- 
minated: nor is any one more ready to acknowledge 
the firmness and wisdom that so strongly marked the 
line of conduct pursued by our worthy president. 
Twenty-five gun-boats, however, might at that time 
have saved Louisiana, by rendering it impossible for 
the British to land, and obliging them to abandon the 
project of attacking New Orleans by the lakes. In 
that case, the enemy would have been fonped to take 
post at Mobile, in order to carry on the war by 
land in the Floridas. And fortunate it would have 
been for us, had he pursued this course, and much it 
is to be wished he may attempt it, should our country 
ever hereafter be at war with Great Britain. I pre- 
dict that all the British troops that may attempt to 
march through the pine-barrens of Florida, will find 
their graves ther^ ; an(l for the accomplishment of my 



BI8TOA2CAL MEMOIR. 63 

jxrediction, I would rdy entirely on Tennessee rifle- 
men. 

. Commodore Patterson, iiriio had served several 
years on the New Orleans station, whieb he had com- 
manded from nearly the commencement of the war, 
was perfectly acquainted with our coast, and conse- 
quently knew what means were necessary to defend 
It On this subject he had written, at an early peri- 
od, and several times since, to the secretary of the 
navy. At Tchifonte, on the eastern shore of hke 
Pontchartrain, a fiat-bottomed frigate had been begun 
to be built, two years before^ calculated for the navi- 
gation of the lakes and of our coasts. She was to car- 
ry forty-two pieces of cannon, twenty-six of which 
were to be thirty-two pounders. The building of 
tiiis frigate was suspended in consequence, I believe, 
of the representations of brigadier-general Floumoy^ 
dien commanding this district. From his first tak- 
ing the command of the station^ commodore Patter* 
son had not ceased to solicit government to authw- 
ize him to have thpit frigate finished. Govemof 
Claiborne's correspondence with the heads of the dif^ 
ferent departments was also to the same effect; but 
though much was promised, nothing was performed. 
It might have been thought, froih the little regard that 
was paid to the rqatrsentations of the superior offi- 
cers of the district, and of our representatives in con- 
gress, that Louisiana vras considered as a bastard child 
of the American fieimily; or that to attack her was 
looked upon as an impossibility. Yet the attack 
made on us ivas within a hair's breadth of succeeding; 
for had the enemy appeared a few weeks sooner, be- 



€4 HIITOmXCAt VBJfOXft* 

f<Mre genfiral Jackson arrivi^d in New OrieuM, be 
might have entered the city with little or no opposi- 
IKXD) there being no means of relating him; and how- 
ever well incUned the citiaens were to defend them* 
9elves» St wottUi have lieesi imposaible to prevent the 
taking of the city.- The capture of our gun-boats 
having left our coast defenceless, and permitted thp 
eneny to choosy whatever point he thought moat 
emvenient to Uind on, it; became necessary to redou* 
bie our eferta i^ making pmp^rationa for defence. 

General Jackson was returning from a tour of 
observation to the river of Chef-Menteur, when the 
intelligence of the loss of the gun-boats reached him. 
I He immediately ordered the militia-battalion of men 
I of colour, commanded by major Lacoste, and the 
« dragoons of Feliciana, to proceed with two pieces of 
cannon and take post at the confluence of bayou Sau- 
\ vage and the river of Chef-Menteur, irt order to co- 
ver die road to the city on that side, and watch the 
enemy's movements. Major Lacoste was also or- 
I dered to erect a close, redoubt surrounded with a 
fosse, according to a plan which I drew agreeably to 
general Jackson's orders. 

On his arrival in town, the general bent his at- 
tention to the fortifying of all assailable points, it 
being impossible to ascertain which the enemy would 
make choice of, the want of vessels on the lake depriv- 
ing us of all means of obtauiing any certain intelli* 
gence of his movements, before he could effect his 
landing. - 

Captain Newman of the artilteiy , who commanded 
the fort of Petites Coquilles, which stands at the 



HISTORICAL HEtfOIK. 65 

iftner entfy of the pass <^ the RigoLets, towards lake 
Pontchartrain, was positively ordered to defend his 
post to the last extremity, and in case of his not be* 
ing able to hold out, to spike the guns, blow up the 
fort, and evacuate on the post of Chef-Menteur. 

Captain P. Jugeant was authorized to levy and 
form into companies all the Chacta w Indians he could 
collect. 

On the 15th the commander-in-chief informed 
generals Coffee, Carrol and Thomas of the taking of 
the gfun-boats, by letters sent by express, urging 
them to use ail possible speed in marching to New 
(Means with the troops under their command. 

General Winchester commanding at Mobile, was 
also informed of the loss of our naval force, and it 
was earnestly recommended to him to use the great* 
est vigilance in protecting the vicinity of that town, 
as the enemy might endeavour to make an attack in 
that quarter. 

On the 16th general Jackson wrote to the secre* 
tary of war, apprizing him of the capture (^the guiv 
boats; he expressed to him his concern for the conse- 
quences that might attend that event, which he appre- 
hended might happen, when he wrote to government 
suggesting the pn^riety of giving the necessary or- 
^ ders forfinishing the block-ship building at Tchifonte, 
and when he gave orders for supplying forts Strother, 
Williams, and Jackson, with six months provisions. 
The general apprehended lest the interruption of our 
communications by water with Mobile, might be at- 
tended with consequences fatal to the safety of tlie 

K 



66 iilSTO&ICAL HBMOIft. 

country* He however assured the secretary of war 
thaty should the enemy effect a landing,^ he would, 
wkfa the help of God, do all he could to repel him. 
He also informed the secretary that neither the^Ten- 
nessee troops nor those of Kentucky had yet arriv- 
ed» but that they were daily expected, and that in 
the meanwhile he was putting the river below the 
city in the best possible state of deiencel H^ ac* 
quaiiUed him with the taking of the post of the Balise^ 
with all the pilots, and a detachment (^troops that was 
diere stationed, but he informed him at the same time 
of the establishment of martial law, and of the rising of 
the militia in mass. ^^ The country," said the general^ 
^^shall bedefended, if in the powerof thephysical force 
it contains, with the auxiliary force ordered. We have, 
no arms here-^wiU the government order a supply? 
If it will, let it be speedily. Without arms, a de- 
fence cannot be made." 

During the summer, while yet among the Creeks, 
general Jackson had made a requisition of a quantity of 
arms, ammunition, heavy cannon, balls, bombs, &cc* 
to be sent to New Orleans; but such was the fatality 
that appeared to be attached to all the measures adopt- 
ed for our defence, that it was not till the middle of 
January y 1815, that a very small proportion of what 
had been ordered, arrived at New Orleans. 

A special law of the state had, some time before, 
authorized the formation of a battalion of free men 
of colour, and we have seen that it had already ta- 
ken the field under the command of major Lacoste^ 
and had been stationed at Chef-Menteur. Colonel Mi- 

!| chael Fortier, senior, a respectable and worthy citizen 
f of New Orleans, having the superior command of all 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 67 

the corps of men of colour, presided over the levying of 
a new battalion of the same description, formed by the 
exertions and under the direction of the gallant captain 
Savary, who had acquired an honourable and distin- 
guished reputation in the wars c^St. Domingo. It was 
chiefly with refugees from that island, that colonel Sa- 
vary formed that battalion, whose officers were im- 
mediately commissioned by the governor of the state; 
and its command was confided to major Daquin 
of Ae 2d regiment of militia. We shall •hereafter 
see in the relation of the different engagements, 
that that brave corps realized, by a brilliant dis- 
play of valour, the hopes that had been conceived 
of it. 

The capture of the gun-boats was announced to 
the senate and house of representatives of the state, 
by a message from the governor: " I lay before you," 
said he, ** a letter addressed to me by commodore 
Patterson, announcing the capture of five of the Unit- 
ed States gun-boats of the New Orleans station, by 
a vastly superior force of the enemy. The length of 
the combat is a proof of the valour and firmness with 
which our gallant tars maintained the unequal con- 
test, and leaves no doubt that, although compelled 
ultimately to strike, their conduct has been such as to ^ 
reflect honour upon the American name and navy.* 
The ascendancy which the enemy has now acquired 
on the coast of the lake, increases the necessity of 
enlarging our measures of defence." 

Commodore Patterson addressed a second letter 
to the governor, in which he complained of the want 



68 HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 

of seamen to man the armed vessels then at New Or- 
leans, and requested the support and assistance of the 
state authorities. 1 his letter was laid by the gover^ 

nor before the legislature, who, on the day of 

December, passed a resolution giving a bounty of 
twent)'-fbur dollars to each seaman who would enter 
the service of the United States for three mondis, 
and to this end placed at the disposition of the go- 
vernor six thousand dollars. The governor forth- 
with issued his proclamatioa (see Appendix No. 19.) 
Between seventy and eighty sailors received the 
bounty of the state, and were of the number of those 
brave tars who, by their incessant fire from the ship 
Louisiana and the schooner Carolina, so annoyed the 
enemy in all his movements, and so particularly ha- 
rassed him on the night of the 23d of December, as 
will be seen hereafter.* 

On the 18th of December, general Jackson re- 
viewed the New Orleans militia, the first and second 
regiments, the battalion of uniform companies under 
the command of major Plauch6, and part of the free 
men of colour. Addresses were read to them, and an- 
swered with acclamations of applause. My voice is 
too w<eak to speak of these addresses in adequate 
terms;' I leave the reader to form an idea of the effect 
*they must have produced on the minds of the militia^ 
from the impression that the mere perusal of them 
will make on himself. (See Appendix, No. 20.) 

• On a representation made by the governor on the 1 6th of 
December, the state legislature passed a law laying an embargo 
for three days, to facilitate to commodore Patterson the means 
of enlisting sailors. 



HISTORICAL HEMOIR. 69 

These corps had two days before entered upon ac- 
tual service, and did regular duty like troops of the 
line. On the 18th, Plauchg's battalion was sent to 
bayou St. John, and the major took the command 
of thut post. 

A general order of this day enjoined all officers 
commanding detachments, out-posts, and pickets, on 
the approach of the enemy, to remove out of his reach 
every kind of stock, horses, &c. and provisions; and 
directed them upon their responsibility to oppose the 
invaders at every point, and harass them by all pos- 
sible means. It concluded with this animating sen- 
tence: 

" The major-general anticipating that the enemy 
will penetrate into this district in a few days, requests 
of the people of Louisiana to do their duty cheerfully, 
and bear the fatigues incident to a state of war, as be- 
comes a great people, anticipating from the ardour per- 
vading, and the present help at hand, to make an easy 
conquest of them, and teach them in future to respect 
the rights of liberty and the property of freemen.^' 

The garrison of fort St. John, on lake Pontchar- 
train, had been reinforced by the volunteer company 
of light artillery, under the cpmmand of lieutenant 
Wagner. 

By an order of the day of the 19th, the command- 
er-in-chief ordered several persons confined in the 
different military prisons, for having violated the laws 
of the country, to be set at liberty, on their offering 
to take up arms in defence of the country. 

But that favour was restricted to such persons as 
were within two months of completing the term of 



70 HISTORICAL MfiKOIR. 

imprisonment to which they had been condemned. 
These and all others not under sentence were, in pur- 
suance of that order, set at liberty by the command- 
ing oBGicers at fort St. Charles, the barracks, and the 
powder magazine. 

The country being now in imminent danger, it 
became necessary to adopt the most vigorous mea- 
sures to prevent all communication with the enemy; 
and in order that such^persons as might be apprehend- 
ed for having given the British information as to the 
situation of the country, its means of defence in 
troops, artillery, fortifications, &c. might not es- 
cape punishment, general Jackson wrote to the 
governor, suggesting to him the propriety of his 
recommending to the legislature to suspend ti\e 
writ of habeas corpus. As the danger was daily 
increasing, the general could not, without expo- 
sing the safety of the country, whose defence was 
committed to him, wait till the dilatCHy forms of de- 
liberation should empower him to take the steps ne- 
cessary for saving it. Nor did it escape* his penetra- 
tion that the legislature was not disposed to second 
hb views, by that energetic measure. The hour of 
combat grew near, that of discussing, deliberating, 
and referring to committees, had gone by. The time 
called for action and promptitude; and accordingly 
general Jackson proclaimed martial law, (see Appen- 
dix, No. 21.) and from that moment his means be- 
came more commensurate with the weight of responsi- 
bility he had to sustain. The object of his commis- 
sion was to save the country; and this, he was sensi- 
ble, could never be effected by half-measures. It was 



HISTORICAL MSICOIR^ 71 

necessary diat all the forces^ all orders, all means of 
opposition to be directed against the enemy, should 
receive their impulse from the centre of the circum- 
ference they occupied. They ought to be radii, di- 
verging from one and the same point, andnot entang- 
ling chords intersecting that circumference and each^ 
other. From the moment martial law was proclaimed, 
every thing proceeded with order and regularly, nor 
did any of our mews jHOve abortive. Every individu- 
al was stationed at his proper post. The guard of the 
ciQr was committed to the corps of veterans and fire- 
engine men, who were to occupy the barracks, hospi- 
tals, and other posts, as soon as the troops of the line 
and the militia should be commanded on service out 
of town. 

The privateers of Baratar ia, and all persons arrest- 
ed for, or accused of, any infraction of the revenue 
laws, sent to tender their services to general Jackson. 
Mr. J. Lafitte, adhering to the line of conduct he had 
marked out for himself, and from which he had never 
deviated from the beginning of September, when the 
British officers, made him proposals, waited on the 
commander-in-chief^ who, in consideration of the 
eventful crisis, had obtained for him a safe conduct 
from judge Hall, and from the marshal of the dis- 
trict. 

Mr. Lafitte solicited for himself and for all the Ba- 
ratariansj the honour of serving under our banners, 
that they might have an opportunity of proving that 
if they had infringed the revenue laws, yet none were 
more ready than they to defend the country and 
combat its enemies. 



72 HISTORICAX UZUOlti. 

Persaaded that the assbtance of these men could 
not fail of being very useful, the general accepted their 
o&rs. Some days after^ a certain number of them 
formed a corps under the command of captains Do- 
minique and Beluche, and were employed during the 
whole campaign at the lines, where, with distinguish* 
ed skill, they served two twenty-four pounders, bat- 
teries Nos. 3 and 4. Others enlisted in one or other 
of the three companies of mariners, raised by captains 
Songis, Lagaud, and Colson. The first of these com- 
panies was sent to the fort of Petites CoquiUes, the 
second to that of St. Philip, and the third to bayou 
St. John. 

All classes of society were now animated with 
the most ardent zeal. The young, the old, women, 
children, all breathed defiance to the enemy, firmly 
resolved to oppose to the utmost the threatened in- 
vasion. Greneral Jackson had electrified all hearts; all 
were sensible of the approaching danger; but they 
waited its presence undismayed. They knew that> in 
a few days, they must come to action with the enemy; 
yet, calm and unalarmed, they pursued their usual 
occupations, interrupted only when they tranquilly 
left their homes to perform military duty at the posts 
assigned them. It was known that the enemy was 
on our coast, within a few hours sail of the city, with 
a presumed force of between nine and ten thousand 
men; whilst all the forces we had yet to oppose him 
amounted to no more than one thousand regulars, and 
from four to five thousand militia. 

These circumstances were publicly known, nor 
could any one disguise to himself, or to others, the 



dmgM fridi wfaiob we were tiireaten^d. Yet, such 
iirM the nflivemd confidencoy inspired by the uctiyitf 
and deebion of the commandef'^in^ehief, added t0 
the defestaticm in which the enenly was held^ aod^the 
desire td punish his audacity, should he phmainew 
hnd, that not a iibigte waretKiuse or ^op was sHiit/ 
nor weref my goods or Talnabte^ffects removed freoA 
^ city. At that period. New Orleans presented a 
very affecting picture to the eyes of the patriot^ and 
of all those whose bosoms glow v^ith the feelings of 
nationid hommr, wfanch raise the mind far afcoTd tfaci 
▼otgar apprehension of personal dahger. The dttizena 
were preparteg for battle as cheerfully as if it had beeil 
a party of pleacrure, each in his vernacular tongod 
singing song&F of victory. The streets resounded 
with YMkee Ihodie, the MarseUiesEgmn^ the Chora 
du Dipart^ and other martial airs^ while those whd 
had been long unaccustomed jto military dnty, were 
furbiahiog their arms and accontrem^fAtsw Beftuty 
applauded vdour, and promised with her.smileB to 
reward the toils of the brave: Though inl)abitii% dif 
•pen town, not ^boveten leagues fironfi the enemy ^' 
and never till now e^epofited to war's alarms, the fair 
sex of New Orleans were animate with the a#dour of 
dMdr defenders, and with cheerful serenity at the sound 
of the drum, presented themselves at the windif ws 
and balconies, to applaud the troops going tlA^ugh 
theur evolutions, and to encourage their husband^ 
aons, fathers, and brothers, to protect them from tbi 
insults of our ferocious enemies, and prevtot a repe« 
tkion of the horrcMrs of Hampton* 



74 HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 

• The several corps of militia were cosalbuoAj ex- 
ercising from morning till evening, and at all hour^ 
was heard the sound of drums, and of mililuy banijs 
of music. New Orleans wore the uppearance of a 
camp; and the greatest cheerfulness and concord pre- 
vailed amongst all ranks and conditions of people. 
All countenances expressed a wish to come to an en- 
gagement with the enemy, and announced a foretaste 
of victory. 

Commodore Patterson sent gun-boat No. 65 U> 
fort St. Philip, Lieutenant Cunningham who com- 
manded it, had <Hders to send an armed boat to the 
Balise, for the purpose of bringing up the custom- 
house officer, and of ascertaining, if possible, the ene- 
my's force. He was further directed to give to the 
commanding officer at Plaquemine all the assistance in 
his power. The commodore ordered captain W. B. 
Carrol, the officer n^o ha4 the command of the navy- 
yatd at Tchifonte^ to cause the brig i£tna to ascend 
the bayou, and take a station opposite the unfinbhed 
block-ship, for the defence of the latter, in case of the 
approach of the enemy. Captain Carrol was further 
(M^dered not to sutkr any boat to leave Tchifonte 
for^the bayou St. John, without a passport, and in the 
event of tlie enemy's enterin^lake Pontchartrain, not 
to let 'the maiUboat pass. 
/ / Mr. J. Shields, purser, and doctor R. Monell» 
; /surgeon of the navy, were sent, on the 15th Decem- 
ber, at night, by commodore Patterson, mth a fl^^ of 
truce, to the British fleet, for the purpose of obtaining, 
correct information as to the situation of the officers 
and crews made prisoners on board the gun-boats^ 
and of endeavouring to obtain their being suffered to 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 



75 



return to town on parole. Doctor Morrell wais like- 
wise sent to administer his professional assistance to 
the wounded. On the following day, near the eastern 
branch of Pearl river, they fell in with gun-boat No. 5, 
one of those taken. Shortly after they went on board 
the frigate Seahorse, captain Gordon, to whom they 
stated the object of their mission, and by whom they 
were sent in a tender to admiral Cochrane, who com«- 
manded the squadron. They met the admiral in his 
barge, who having read commodore Patterson's let- 
ter and the credentials he had given to those gentle- 
men, returned the letter without any observation, and 
ordered the tender to anchor at the mouth of Peaii 
river. 

On the ISthyin the m<niiing, the admiral sent for 
the gentlemen, who accordingly waited on him on 
shore on Isle-aux-Pois. He first inquired what rank 
they held in the American navy: and next observed 
that their visit was unseasonable under the existing 
circumstances; that he could not permit them to re- 
turn, until the intended attack was made, and the fate 
of New Orleans decided. In support of his opinion, 
he instanced a similar case that had occurred at Bal- 
timore, and cpncluded by observing, that prudence 
and policy obliged him to send them on board some 
vessel belonging to the fleet. On the gentlemen's 
expressing a wish to know in what light he thought 
proper to .consider them, the admiral replied that it 
was his intention to respect the flag of trued, though 
he thought he should not be reprehensible, were he 
to treat diem as prisoners of war. 



76 »HTPRICA1^ tffiMQIl. 

TMe motive which induced these gentlftnen to in< 
quite Qf the British admiral in what light they were to 
be considered^ was the just suspicion which they en- 
tertained from the previous conduct of the enemy 
towards them. Their boat had been moored astern 
pf the tender, and plundered of all its rigging, 
^)d A guard had been stationed in her. It was 
ivith the greatest difficulty that a sail was ob- 
tained to shelter the men from the r^n and intense 
cold during the night. Next morning, the tender 
was ordered to convey them on board the Gorgon, 
hospital ship, where were 'most of the wounded men 
of the crews of the gun<boats. Through the negli- 
gence of the officer commanding the tender, the boat 
which he had in tow, was sunk, and every thing on 
board of her was lost. But what particularly evinced 
the outrageous spirit of the British, was that the officer 
pommandifig the tender, forced the crew of the boat 
under a flag of truce, to work like his own sailors. 
To put a stop to this violation of the law of nations, 
it was necessary to come to an explanation with that 
officer, lieutenant Johnston; who, being irritated at the 
circumstance, refund to give the least assistance to 
^ some of our wouqded men, who had been already 
twenty-eight hours on board the tender, whither they 
had been removed from on board the brig Anaconda, 
without having yet received any nourishment what-^ 
ever. On board the Gorgon, the gentlemen found 
pur wounded ^M^rfectly well treated by the British. 
As it is with reluctance that I have been under the 
necessity of reproaching them with tlieir cruelty 
in a variety of instances, it is here particularly 
j^ateful to me, to have occasion to do justice to their 



1 



liJ9T0|llCAL )CSIiOIR. 77 

humanity; for in 4e$cribing the horrors of vnaTf the 
feeling heart finds a most pleasing relief from his 
painful task) in dwelling upon instances of humane 
conduct. 

Admiral Cochrane had promised Messrs. Shield 
and Morrell that they . should be permitted to visit 
their countrymen, and yet, with duplicity unworthy 
his high rank, be gave a written order, " that on no. 
pretence whatever were they to be permitted to leave 
the Gorgon, until further orders," 

The loss of their boat having left these officers en- 
tirely without linen or any other clothes than those on 
their persons^ and there appearing no rational ground 
to detain them as prisoners who had come under the 
sanction of a flag of truce, they several times, through 
the channel of different Qj£cer$, applied ta the admi<r 
ral, claiming to be set at liberty, with their boat'$ 
crew. But all their applications were to no purpose> 
until the 12th of January , on which day they were re- 
leased, and on the 18th they arrived in town. 

The defence of the country requiring the absence 
of a number of citi^^ens from their homes, m inter- 
ruption of business became unavoidable^ and the 
obligation of performing military duty, precluded 
the possibility of fulfilling commercial engagements. 
Thia ^tate of things induced the legislature to pass a 
law prolonging the term of payment on«all c<»itracts, 
till the 1st of May next ensuing, and providing va- 
rious regulations on that subject. (See Appendix, 
Mo. 22.) 

On the 21st of December^ when the orders that 
iMd been given for obstructing the different panals of 
the bajou$ below Manphac were presumed to have 



t8 



UISTO&ICAI^ MEMOIR. 






been executed, a detachment of the 3d regiment of 
militia, consisting of eight white men and a serjeant, 
two mulattoes and one negro, with a single boat, 
was sent by major Viller6 (the son) to the village pf 
the Spanish fishermen, on the left bank of the bayou 
Bienvenu, a mile and a half from its entrance into 
lake Borgne, for the purpose of discovering whether 
the enemy might try to penetrate that way, and to 
give notice of such attempt. 

The bayou Bienvenu is unfortunately become 
so remarkable from the British forces having pene- 
trated through it, into Louisiana, that it deserves a 
iparticular description. 

This bayou, formerly called the river St. Fi-ancis 
under which designation it is laid down in some old 
maps, is the creek through which run all the waters of 
a lai^ basin, of a triangular form, about eighty square 
miles in surface, bounded on the south by the Mis- 
sissippi, on the west by New Orleans, by bayou 
Sauvage or Chef-Meiiteur on the northwest, and 
on the east by lake Borgne, into which it empties. 
It receives the waters of several other bayous, form- 
ed by those of the surrounding cypress swamps 
and prairies, and of innumerable little streams from 
the low grounds along the river. It commences be- 
hind the suburb Marigny, at New Orleans, divides 
the triangle nearly into two-equal parts from the sum- 
mit to the lake which forms its basis, and runs in a 
south-easterly direction. It is navigable for vessels of 
one hundred tons as far as the forks of the canal of 
Piemas' plantation, twelve miles from its mouth. Its 
breadth is from one hundred and ten to one hundred 
and fifty yards, and it has six feet water on the bar, at 



HISTORICAt memoir: 79 

common tides, and nine feet at spring tides. With- 
in the bar, there is for a considerable extent, suffi- 
cient water for vessels of from two to three hundred 
tons. Its principal branch is that which is called 
bayou Mazant, which runs towards the southwest, 
and receives the waters of the canals of the planta- 
tions of Villerg, Lacoste, and Laronde, on which the 
enemy established his principal encampment It 
was at the forks of the canal Viller6 and bayou Ma- 
zant that the British ascended in their pinnaces, and 
effected a landing. 

Of the other branches of the bayou Bienvenu 
we shall take no particular notice; that called bayou 
I^azant being the only one connected with the Bri- 
tish military movements. (See Atlas, plate No. 5.) 

The level of the great basin, or the bank of the 
principal bayou, is usually twelve feet below the level 
of the banks of the Mississippi. The slope is usually 
one half of that height, or six feet, for the descent of 
the lands under culture, of from about one half to 
two-thirds of a mile in depth from the river, and the 
remaining six feet is the slope of cypress swamps and 
prairies, which are usually three or four times the 
depth, or extent of the high- lands susceptible of cul- 
tivation; so that one thousand yards, the usual depth 
of the lands under culture, have a slope of six feet, 
which gives less than 0,005 of a foot to each yard, 
whilst the prairies and cypress swamps together, com- 
monly six thousand yards in depth, have but 0,001 
of a foot to the yard in slope. The overflowing of 
the waters of all those bayous and canals, occasioned 
by the tide of the sea, or by the winds raising the 



80 HiStORlCAI. IfCMOIS. 

waters in the lake, forms on all their banks ddpositst 
of slime, which are continually raising them above 
the rest of the soil, so that the interval between two 
bayous is, of course, below the level of their banks, 
and the soil is generally covered with water and mud, 
aquatic plants, or large reeds, growing there in abun- 
dance to the height of from six to eight feet it some- 
times happens that the rains, or the filtrated waters, 
collected in these intervals or basins, not finding any 
issue to flow off, form what arc called trembling prai- 
riesj which are at all seasons impassable for men and 
domestic animals. 

In times of great drought, and in low tides, the 
ordinary prairies are passable, and some of them are 
frequented by the cattle of the neighbouring planta- 
tions, which prefer the grass they find there to that 
which grows on the banks of the river, on account 
of the saline particles deposited among the former by 
the waters of the lakes overflowing into the bayous. 
Such is nearly the structure of those basins or prairies, 
which are very extensive in Louisiana, and what we 
have observed of those which are immediatelv con- 
nccted with otn* subject, is applicable, more or less, 
to all the others in the country. From the high-lands 
of the Floridas, where the first hills begin, all the rest, 
as far as the sea, is alluvion land, gained from thicr 
water by the deposits from streams, particularly the 
Mississippi. This space is crossed in different direc- 
tions by strips of high-land, between which there is 
invariably a river or bayou, more or less subject to 
periodical swells or tides; the surface of these waters 
is usually but little below the soil contiguous to their 



HISTORICAL MEMOia. 81 

banks, and always higher than that which is at a cer- 
tain distance. In a word, the land in Lower Louisiana 
slopes in the inverse direction of the soil of other cotih* 
tries, being most elevated on the sides of the rivers, 
and sinking as it recedes from them. The Missis- 
sippi swells annually and periodically at New Orleans 
fourteen or fifteen feet, atid is then from three to 
four feet abdve the level of its banksi To contain 
its waters within its bed, dikes or ramparts^ called in 
Louisiana levees^ haVe been raised on its banks, firotri 
the high-lands towards its mouthy a little above the 
level of the highest swells; without which precaution 
the lands would be entirely overflowed from four to 
five months in the year* When, from accident, or 
negligence in keeping up these dikes, the river breaks 
through them, the rupture, called in this country a 
crevasse^ occasions an extensive inundation, which 
lays the adjacent cypress swamps under ten and the 
prairies under twelve feet waten ^ Such accidents, 
unfortunately too common, usually destroy at once 
the crops of ten and sometimes of twenty plantations^ 
It is hoped that the frequent recultence of the evil, 
owing to a defective system of police for the le- 
vies, will determine the legislature td take effectual 
measured to prevent such disasters, by ceasing to 
Confide to the respective landholders a care so im* 
portant to the whole country as that of the levies, 
and imposing a tax on the lands where they run, for 
th^ purpose of keeping them always in repair. 

This digression appeared to me necessary, to 
give a precise idea of the ground which was the the- 



82 UISTORICAL HEHOIB. 

atre of the military operations I am about to relate^ 
and whieh could not be perfectly understood without 
these preliminary observations. 

The detachment, composed as I have observed, 
repaired in the night of the 21st December to the 
post assigned, the fishermen's village, consisting of 
twelve very large cabins, capable of containing; from 
two hundred to three hundred men, and constructed 
with stakes, thatched and inclosed with palmetto 
leaves, on a tongue of land on the left bank of bayou 
Bienvenu. In these cabins lived about thirty or forty 
fishermen, almost all Spaniards or Portuguese. From 
lake Borgne, which being shallow and in their vicinity, 
afforded them an advantageous fishing ground^ they 
used to convey their fish in pirogues (periaguas) 
to the extremity of the canal of La Ronde's and Vil- 
lere's plantations, from which place it was transport- 
ed in wagons to town. The owners of those plan- 
tations Messrs- Villere, Lacoste and La Ronde, per- 
mitted those fishermen to enjoy the gratuitous use of 
their canals^ and constantly afforded relief to such of 
those wretches as happened to fall sick; and it will 
soon appear that in return for the beneficence of those 
gentlemen, the wretches sold the lives and fortunes 
of their benefactors. 

I have not been able to discover the names of all 
diose fishermen, to consign them to execration and 
hifamy, as I here do the following few who have 
come to my knowledge. 

Master Fishermen. 

Maringuier Francisco 

Old Luiz Graviella 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR, 83 

Mre&ng Fishermen. 
Antonio el Italiano Manuelillo 

El Campechano Antonio EI Mayorquin 

Antonio El Portuguez Garcia. 

These are well known to have aided the British 
in disembarking their troops, serving as pilots on 
board their vessels and boats, and acting as spies for 
them from the period of their arrival on our coast. 
It was their practice, when they came to town to sell 
their fish, to get all the information they could, for 
the purpose of carrying it to the English, when they 
went out to fish in lake Borgne. On the 20tb of 
December, the day preceding the arrival of the de- 
tachment at the village, the British captain Peddie 
had come disguised, accompanied by the three first 
named of these fishermen, as far as the bank of the 
Mississippi, and had even tasted its waten It was 
from his report, after having thus examined the coun-* 
try, that the enemy determined to penetrate by Vil- 
lere's canal, whose banks at the time afforded firm 
footing from the landing place in the pnurie to the 
river. 

When the detachment arrived at the village, they 
foulid only one fisherman, and him sick, all the others, 
having gone the day before, pnder the pretence of 
fishing, to serve as pilots to the British barges. A 
few men were immediately sent into the lake to dis- 
cover wliether the enemy were already arrived, and 
on their return, a sentinel was posted at some dis« 
tance in advance of the last cabin, for the rest of the 
night. 



84 HlUTOtH€Ah HXX9II. 

On the 23d by break of day a reconnoitring party 
of three men \vas ugain sent two miles into the lake, 
and during that whole day, fresh parties were sent out 
every two hours, to discover whether the enemy were 
approaching. Towards evening, three men in a pi- 
rogue arrived from Chef-Menteur, who had travers- 
ed part of the lake without seeing any enemy. That 
night ti sentinel was again posted in advance of tlie 
^bins. 



AFFAIR OF THE 23d DECEMBER. 

Some time after midnight, the sentinel having 
heard a noise, called his comrades, who all instantly 
seia^d their arms. By the last gleams of the setting 
mooii, they perceived five barges full of men, with 
some pieces of artillery, ascending the bayou; on 
which, thinking it would be imprudent to fire, con- 
sidering the great disproportion of numbers, they re- 
tired for concealment behind a cabin. As soon as 
the five barges had passed this cabin, a party delser- 
niined to attempt to escape by the lake, and gi%'e in- 
formation of the arrival of tlie enemy^ With this 
view, seven men of the detachment had already got 
into the boat, when one of the barges having perceiv- 
ed them, gave the alarm to the four others, who all 
made for the boat and became masters of it, before it 
could be got ready to push off. Only four of those in 
the boat had time to land, and the remaining three 
weretakei\, as were two others on shwe; ^o that of the 
whole detachment, only four escaped, who ran in differ- 
ent directions into the prairies; and of these four, three 



HXSTOKICAI. MEMOIX. 85 

individuals, after faaviog wandered a whole day in the 
pndries, where the height of the grass hindered them 
from seeing any way to get out crf'tiiem, happened to 
&lUnto thehandsof the enemy» at the very village from 
which they had fled. One alone, Mr. A. Key, more 
persevering, or perhaps more fortunate, after three 
days of uncommon fatigue, hardships and perils, 
over trembling prairies, bayous, lagoons, and through 
cane brakes, arrived at the post of Bertoniere op the 
road leading from Gentilly to ChcfrMenteur. 

♦ The enemy having made prisoners of all these 
men, ^hut them up in the cabin which they used as 
their quarters, and placed a guard at the door. What 
further corroborates the evidence of the communication 
of the fishermen with the British, is the precaution 
that had been taken by the only one of them that was 
at the village with the detachment on the arrival of 
the enemy, to shut up in a cabin, that same evening, 
all the dogs in the vilbge, who had kept up an in- 
cessant barking, during all the preceding night. But 
this is not all: the British, through a inistake, shut 
up one of the fishermen with the detachment, on the 
morning of the SSd* This man seeing a British offi- 
cer passing by the cabin, called to him, and on dis- 
cofvering himself to him as one of those whom he 
bad frequently seen aboard British vessels, lie was 
immediately set at liberty. 

About an hour afterwards, Mr. Ducros, a native 
of Louisiana, was taken from among the prisoners 
in the cabin, and put on board a boat in which was 
captain Spencer of the navy, with a colonel of infan- 



86 HISTORICAL UEUOlti. 

try. The boat proceeded to die lidke, in which, when 
they had advanced about a mile, they met the reat of 
' the first division, consisting of about diree thousand 
men in eighty boats. That division was composed oS 
the light brigade formed of the 85th and 95th regi« 
ments, captain Lane's rocketeers, one hundred men 
of (he engineer corps, and the 4th regiment, all un« ; 
der the command of colonel Thornton, ^ 

Captain Spencer announced his prisoner to gene* 
ral Keane and admiral Cochrane, as one of those ta- 
ken at the viHage. The admiral then inquired of Mr. 
Ducros, what might be the number of the American 
forces in the city and environs. The answer he re- 
ceived was, thatthere werefrom twelve to fifteen thou* 
sandmen in tlie city, and from three to four at the En* 
glish Turn. The admiral then ordered captain Spen« 
cer to proceed with all speed With the advanced guaid, 
and to effect a landing at the point agreed on. The di- 
vision proceeded accordbgly, and when it arrived at 
the village, admiral Cochrane with several other offi- 
cers, went on shore, and tlie division, under the com- 
mand of general Keane, proceeded up the bayou. 
The admiral and the oth^ officers put again to all the 
prisoners, the questions they had asked Mr. Ducros, 
and received from all nearly the same answer in con- 
sequence of a conversation the evening before, in . 
which they had made the number of troops already 
arrived, or hourly expected at New Orleans, to 
amount to eighteen thousand men. 

The division arrived at the extremity of Villere's 
canal by four in the morning, and soon effected a 
landing, being almost wholly composed of light 



HISTOBIC AL MEMOIR. 87 

lhx>ps. After the troops had rested some hours, the 
British coknirs were displayed at the top of a tree, 
wjiile. the band played God. save the JCmgi and at 
about ten o'clock they .commenced their march to* 
wards the banks of the Mississippi, cutting cane, as 
they went along, to facilitate their pass^e over the 
prairie and small bayous or couiees. From the 
mouth of the canal to the skirts of the wood, the dis- 
tance is about a mile, and from thence to the bank of 
the river nearly two miles^ At about half after ele- 
ven, the advance arrived at the side of the wood ne^Kt 
the river, and immediately extended along Yilleri's 
canal. They now sturounded the house of genen^ 
yiller6y in which was stationed a comply of the 
third regiment of militia, whom they made prisonars, 
and where they surprised major Villecg, his son, who, 
notwithstanding several pistols fired at him, made 
his escape through a window, and. got to the river, 
where finding a pirogue, he crossed over to the rig^t 
bank« Colonel Denis de la Ronde, who on that very 
night, the 23di as indeed throughout the whole cam-> 
paign, rendered essential services to his country, 
had also escaped firom the enemy, and arrived in town 
by the opposite bank* 

The rest of the troops of the division continab4 
to arrive at general VUleri's house^ and were on ihesr 
march towards die lugher boundary of the plantation, 
with intent tq encamp theits, when they were first 
discovered. Colonel Denis de la Ronde, who had 
stationed detachments of his regiment, the third at 
Louisiana militia, on general Viller6's and Jumon- 
viHe's plantations, had, in the evening of the 22d, sent 



88 HlSTOfttCAL MEkOIA^ 

to inform general Jackson that several sails of vessels 
had been seen off the point of the three bayous, be^ 
hiod Terre aux Boeuft. I'he general ordered me to 
go, in company with major Tatum, topographical 
engineer, to ascertain whether this report were true; 
directing us to examine very particularly all the com- 
munications from Terre aux Boeufs to lake Borgne. 
We left town at eleven o'clock in the forenoon of the 
23dy and when we arrived at the boundafy of Bkn- 
venu's and la Ronde's plantations, we met several 
{Ikrsons flying towards town, who told us that the Bri- 
tish had got to general Villef*6's house by tlie canal^ 
and had taken prisoner major VillerS, the generates 
son. It being of the utmost importance to infonh 
general Jackson of an event no longer dbubtful, ma- 
jor Tatum immediately returned to town, and I pro* 
ceeded f(H*ward as far as otct the boundary of La- 
coste's and Villerg's plantations, whence 1 discover- 
ed British troops occupying the ground . hx>m the 
commencement of the angle made by the road in that 
place to the liead <yf the canal* (See the plan of the 
affair of the 23d, Plate 6, in which that position is laid 
down.) I approached within rifle-shet of those troqps, 
^^ judged that their number must amount to six- 
teen ot eighteen hundred men. It was then half past 
one P. M., and within twenty-five minutes after, ge- 
neral Jackson was informed of the enemy's position. 
On this the general, with that heroism and prompt 
de<usion which is characteristic of him, and of which 
he had exhibited such signal instances during the 
campaign, instantly said he would go to meet the Bri- 
tish; and immediatdy iasued orders to that effects 



HISTORICAL HEHOIR. 89 

The alarm-gun was fired; the battalion of uniform 
Volunteer companies, commanded by major Plauch6,- 
then stationed at the bayou St. John, was ordered to* 
return and join, the other corps with all possible 
speed, which order the battalion executed, running 
all the way. 

By half after two in the afternoon, a detach* 
ment of artillery, two field pieces, commanded' by 
lieutenant Spotts, and lieutenant-colonel M 'Rae, the 
seventh of the line, the command of which regi- 
ment was given, for the present, to major Peire, on 
account of an accidental wound disabling major 
Nicks from active service, and a detachment of ma- 
rines, commanded by lieutenant Bellevue, were all 
foicnied on the road, near Montreuil's plantation. O^ 
ders had likewise been sent to generals Cofiee and 
Carroll, who were encamped four miles above the 
city, to march down with their commands, and these 
orders were executed in one hour's time. 

General Cofiee's command of mounted riflemen, 
> and the volunteer dragoons of the Mississippi terri- 
tory, formed the advance; the Orleans rifle company, 
commanded by captain Beale, followed on closely, 
and by four o'clock iiad taken a position on Rodri* 
guez's canal; the battalion of men of colour, under 
major Daquin, the forty-fourth regimc;nt, under cap- 
tain Baker, and Plauchg*s battalion, which arrived 
about five o'clock from the bayou, marched with all 
expedition against the enemy.- Commodore Patter-.^^ 
son was requested to order such armed vessels as 
were ready, to drop down and take a station opposite 
the enemy. The schooner Carolina, captain Henley, 



00 HlSTOmCAL HEUOIH. 

WB6 the oidy one in a condition to perform diis aar« 
vice, as, there being no wind, ttie sloop of war Lou* 
istana could not steer in the stream. Commodore 
Patterson went on board the Carolina, and there con>*^ 
tinned during the engagement. (See the commo* 
dore's letters to the secretary of the navy, Appendix, 
No. 23 ) ' 

Governor Claiborne was ordered, with the first* 
second, and fourth regiments of the Louisiana militia, 
smd the volunteer company of horse, under captain 
Chauveau, to take a position between tht Colson and 
Darcantel plantations, in the plaki of Gentilly, in or- 
der to cover the city on the side of Chef-Menteur. 
About four o'clock^ a piquet of five mounted rifie- 
nden, who had been sent to reconnoitre the road^ was 
assailed by a discharge of musketry from a British 
out-post concealed behind the fence on the boundary 
of Larmde's and Laooste's plantations, by which the 
reconnoitring party, too weak and too rash, lost a 
horse killed, and had two men wounded. Colcmel 
Haines, kispector-general of the divi«0B, went for- 
ward, shortly after, with one hundred men, to recon- 
noitre the enemy; but he had no opportunity to form 
a correct estimate of their number, which he made 
to amount to no more than two hundred men; an er- 
ror probably proceeding from his having taken the 
advance on the road for the troops drawn up in co- 
lumn some hours before, as reported by the officer 
who had first seen them. 

A negro was apprehended, who had been sent by 
the British with printed copies of a proclamation, in 
French and Spanish, nearly in the following terms: 



*^ Loubianiansi remam quiet in yout hooMB; ytMr 
slaves shall be preserved to you^ and your property 
respected. We make war only again&t Americana." 
Signed by admiral Cochrane and major<.general 
Keane. 

We have ^en, in the account of the offers made 
to Mr. Lafitte, what reliance was to be had on their 
promise to preserve slaves to their masters. 

An hour before these papers were seized^ the 
British had stuck up the same proclamation on the 
fences, all along the road below Laronde's plantation. 

The troops now moved forwafd; general Coffee 
took the command of the left, composed of a part of 
his brigade, the Tennessee mounted riiemen, the 
Orleans company of riflemen, under captain fieale, 
forming the extremity of the left, a pwt of the Mis- 
sissippi dragoons and mounted rifiemen, amounting 
in all to seven hundred and thirty-two fighting men. 

Colonel de la Ronde, the owner of the plantation 
on which the troops were formed, after having, about 
noon, escaped from the British at Villerg's, and 
crossed the river, had come to town and joined 
captain Bealc's company as a vrfunteer; from his 
knowledge of the ground, he was now ordered by, 
general Jackson to accompany general Coffee as a 
guide. 

A!x>ut nightfall, the left entered on La Ronde's 
plantation, and took a position in the back of it, on 
its boundary with Lacoste's. 

The right formed on a line almost perpendicular 
to the river^ stretching from the lev6e to the garden 
of La Rondels plantation^ and on its principal ave- 



92 UISTORICAr HEMOIRt 

nue. The artillery occupied the high road, support* 
ed by the detachment of marines. On the left of the 
artillery were stationed the seventh and forty-fourth 
of the line, Plauch^'s and Daqiim's battalions, and 
eighteen Chactaw Indians, commanded by captainH 
Jugeant and Allard, forming the extremity of the 
right wing towards the woods. The superior com* 
mand of the battalions of militia was given to colonel 
Ross. 

I'he boats that had landed the first division of 
the British troops relumed down the bayou, and at 
eight o'clock passed the village on their way to take 
in the second division, which had been embarked in 
small vessels, and was already in the lake. By four 
in the afternoon, that division, consisting of the twen- 
ty-first, forty -fourth, and ninety -third regiments, widi 
a divi^on of artillery, m all two thousand five hun- 
dred men, arrived at the village. At half after seven 
in the evening, they were disembarking, when the 
firing was first heard from the schooner Carolina, 
which now opened on the division encamped on the 
river bank. 

Admirals Cochrane and Malcolm, with several 
officers of the army and navy, had remained at the 
village to hasten the landing of the troops, and had 
there passed the whole day, during- which time they 
frequently conversed with the prisoners, endeavour- 
ing to persuade them that the British army came with 
no hostile intent against the inhabitants of the country, 
who being mostly Frenchmen or Spaniards by birth 
or descent, must naturally (as these linglish gentle- 
men naturally supposed) prefer the British govern- 
mejU to that of the United States. They told them 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 93 

that their intentions were to obtain and keep posses- 
sion of the country, and to penetrate far up the Mis- 
sissippi, to make the upper country the theatre of 
war; that to convince the inhabitants of their friendly 
intentions, they had brought with them three natives 
of Louisiana, serving in the troops of his catholic ma- 
jesty in Pensacola; and accordingly those three per- 
sons alluded to, Messrs, Guiliemard, iiegio, and 
Grand Pr&, were seen shortly after in company with 
the British officers; but fortunately were not able to 
give them any great assistance. 

On the arrival of the second division at the viU 
lage, the prisoners Were embarked on board one of 
the boats, to be conveyed to their own homes. They 
landed at half past seven, with the second division, 
who, on hearing the report of the cannon, made all 
haste to repair to the scene of action, where they ar. 
rived in less than an hour, long before the action was 
over, so that several corps of that division were en- 
gaged in it. 

The first division of British troops, having en- 
camped, or rather bivouacked, as Ihave already ob- 
served, at the angle formed by the road, on the high- 
est part of Villere's plantation, in irregular order, ^ 
some on the side of the levee, and others in the plain, 
out-posts had been stationed at different places, hi 
an oblique line, extending from the boundary be- 
tween LaRonde'sand Lacoste^s plantations, running 
along the negro huts of the latter, on the back of 
the dwelling house, as far as a cluster of live oaks, 
on ViIIer6*s canal, near the wood. There was sta- 
tioned a strong detachment to cover the communica- 



S^4 niSTORICAX. MEMOIR. 

tion with the rest of the army) by the road on the 
right bank of the canal. Through the plain ran a 
chain of out-sentries, very closely posted. A de- 
tachment of fifty men was stationed at Jumonville's 
bridge^ on the border of the canal, on the road. 
One company had advanced as far as the bank of the 
river, behind the lev6e, and to the angle forming Mr. 
VillerS's inclosed batture, probably in order to pre- 
vent all surprise by . the river. The detachment of 
tlie rocket brigade was stationed behind the lev6e, to 
use that diabolical invention against such vessels as 
might endeavour to annoy the camp. A few pieces 
of cannon had already arrived, and were mounted in 
the court near Vilkrfe's sugar-works. A strong de- 
tachment of about five hundred men was stationed 
on the left bank of Viller^'s canal, near the negro 
huts. General Keane and his officers, among whom 
was colonel Thornton, had established their head- 
quarters in Mr. VillerS's house. 

The British general having thus, with little diffi- 
culty, succeeded in bringing his troops to the banks 
of the Mississippi, and there establishing his camp^ 
in the belief that his arrival and position could not 
be known at New Orleans till late in the night, ex- 
pected to meet with little <^ no resistance. Such was 
the security and confidence of the British army» that 
part of the troops had lain down in their bivouacs, 
and some picquets of the out«posts had lighted up 
large fires, at which the men were cooking their 
• suppers, when they were surprised. It appears, indeed, 
not unlikely that the c^inicm they had of their supe- 
rior military skill, the expectation with which they 



HISTORICAL HEMOIE. 95 

bad been deluded, that the old population of the coun* 
try would hail their arrival with joy, the cheering 
thoughts of their having arrived on the banks of the 
Misaiaaippi, within nine miles of New Orieans, with- 
out having had occasion to fire a musket, contributed 
to make the British believe themselves in perfect secu- 
rity from any attack. (See the plan, Plate No. 6.) 
About seven o'clock the Carolina came to anchcM* 
on the brink of Viller6*s batture, opposite the centre 
of theBritiah encampment, within musket-shot. Such 
ws» the security of the British, that taking that ves- 
sel for a common boat plying on the Mississippi, 
numbers of them went on the lev6e to examine her 
more closely. At half after seven the Carolina open- 
ed on them a dreadful fire, which continued for ten 
minutes before they could recover from the conster- 
nation with which they were struck by that sudden 
attack; so that they had not yet run to their arms, 
when the guns of the schooner had already killed or 
wounded upwards of a hundred of their men. The 
British at last extinguished the fires in their camp, 
and attempted to answer the schooner with a fire of 
musketry, firom which the crew sustained no injury. 
Some Congreve rockets were tried with as little ef- 
fect, and those who discharged them were forced to 
conceal themselves behind the levee. In less than 
half an hour the schooner drove the enemy from his 
camp. (See commodore Patterson's letter to the se- 
cretary of the navy, Appendix No. 24.) 

At this moment a company of the seventh, com- 
manded by lieutenant M'Klelland, under colonel 
Piatt, quarter-master-general, advanced from the gate 



96 UISTORICAt MEMOIK. 

of La Ronde's plantation, on the road, to the boun« 
dary of Lacoste's, at the distance of fifteen paces, 
where the det?»chment was received with a discharge 
of musketry, from one of the enemy's out. posts sta- 
tioned on the road. Though this out-post consisted 
of a considerable number of men, that gallant compa- 
ny attacked them vigorously, and forced them to re- 
tire; and colonel Piatt, with a few men of the detach- 
ment, advanced to the ground from which they had 
just driven the enemy. The latter^ having received 
a reinforcement of two hundred men, and being now 
about three hundred strong, returned to resume their 
former position, and kept up a brisk fire of muske- 
try against the detachment, who as briskly returned 
itt In this affair colonel Piatt received a wound in 
tlie leg, lieutenant M^Klelland and a serjeant were 
killed, and a few men wounded. 

Meantime the 7th regiment advanced by heads 
of companies parallel to the right, appuye on the 
high road, to the distance of 150 yards, where it 
formed in battalion before the enemy, with whom it 
instantly engaged with a very brisk and close fire. 
The 44th came up at the same time, formed on the 
left of the 7th, and commenced firing. The artillery 
having now arrived, the two pieces were put in bat- 
tery on the road, the marines being drawn up on the 
right of the artillery on the river bank. The engage- 
ment now became general on both sides; the front of 
the British line greatly outflanked our line on the left, 
and the enemy seeing that he could not make our 
troops give way, caused some of his to file off on the 
old lev6e by a gate, three hundred yards from the river, 



HISTORICAL MEMOIIt. 9^ 

with intfent to turn our flank. The 44th had already 
been obliged to oblique oft the left, to avoid being 
turned, when major Plauche's battalion, with that of 
major Daquin, with a very small number of Indians, 
advanced at the moment when their left was tppuye 
on the angle of Laronde's garden, and the right a little 
in the rear of the 44th. The enemy's column adVan- 
cing silently in the dark, to endeavour to turn the 
troops of the line, fell suddenly almost within pistol- 
shot of the extremity of Daquin's battalion, and in- 
stantly commenced a brisk firing, Plauche's batta'- 
lion, now forming the centre, advanced in close co- 
lumn, and displayed under the enemy's fire^ which 
was then kept up by hb whole front, from the bank 
of the river to Laronde's garden, forming an angle, 
or curve, in the centre. Already had our troops, ani- 
mated with martial ardour, forced the enemy to give 
way; and they continued to advance, keeping up an 
incessant fire; the cry of charge! charge! push or¥ 
'With the bayonet! ran from rank to fank on the left, 
when the enemy thought proper to retire, favoured 
by the darkness which was increased by the fog, and 
by the smoke which a light breeze from the south- 
blew full in the faces of our men. The artillery had 
all this time been playing upon the enemy, who made 
an attempt to seize it; but the fire from the right of 
the 7th regiment, and from the marines, Castrated 
his intent. At last when the smoke dispersed, the 
enemy had already retired within the limits of La- 
coste's plantation. 

In the meantime, general Coffee's division ha4 
advanced towards the back of Laronde's plantation. 



98 UX3T0BICAL UZMOm. 

in order to fall on the enemy's rear, according to the 
advipe of colonel Larondie^ the owner of the pre- 
mises. General Co&e ordered his riflemen to db- 
mount on the edge of the ditch separating the two 
plantations, where he left about one huiulred men to 
take care of the horses, and have them ready when 
wanted. The division crossed the boundary line, 
and pushed forward in a. direction perpendicular to 
that line. Captain Beale's company, which had advan- 
ced near tlie wood, within a short distance of one pf 
the enemy's advanced guards, followed the movements 
of general Coffee, who drew up his division almost 
on the limits between the grounds of Lacoste and 
Villere. The detachment of cavalry under the com- 
mand of major Hinds, not being able to manoeuvre 
in ftelds cut up with ditches at very close intervals, 
remained drawn up on the edge of a ditch in the mid- 
dle of the plantation. Colonel Coffee's division ex- 
tended its front as much as possible, and the general 
ordered it to advance in silence, and fire without or- 
der, taking aim with their utmost skill. Long prac- 
tice had enabled these riflemen to keep up a very 
brisk fire, the more destructive, as not a man dis* 
charged' his piece without doing execution. The di- 
vision continued to advance, driving the enemy be- 
fore it, and took its second position in front of La- 
coste's plantation, where was posted the 85th, which, 
on receiving the first discharge, fell back behind the 
old levee, towards the camp. Captain Beale's com- 
pany advanced on the left within Viller^'s plantation, 
almost in the midst of detachments of the enemy, in- 



RIsfoRICAl MElitoia. * ^ 

cessantly coining up t)n that side. It was princi|)ally 
engaged with a corps of the enemy near the old 
lev6e, which it forced to fall back. About the same 
time Coffee's division discovered thjlt several parties 
of the enemy were posted among Lacoste's negro 
huts. On this the genenil ordered his men to move 
forward to the right, to drive the enemy from that 
position, which was soon effected. 

The negro huts of Mr. Lacoste's plantation still 
exhibit evident proofs of the unerring aim of the gal- 
lant Tennesseans of Coffee's division: in one spot par- 
ticularly are seen half a dozen marks of their balls in 
a diameter of four inches, which were probably all 
fired at the same object. 

Some British soldiers were killed or taken prison^ 
ers in Endeavouring to escape towards the woods 
n^ar the huts, in a direction opposite to that of their 
camp; so true it is that the British troops were struck 
with consternation on being attacked that night in so 
vigorous, judicious and unexpected a manner. 

Captain Beale's company, after having penetrated 
into the very camp of the enemy, and made several 
prisoners, pushed forward to the right, following the 
movement of general Coffee; but unfortunately a par- 
ty of those brave and most estimable men, through 
a mistake owing to the darkness, fell among a corps 
of one hundred and fifty of the British, who were 
moving on rapidly towards the camp, taking them for 
part of Cpffee's division, and were made prisoners* 
The others followed the road to the right, and tool^ 
several prisoners. 



100 , HISTORICAI K£l(OIB. 

Coffee's division at last took a position in frbnt of 
the old Icvfie, near Laronde's t>oundary, where it 
continued to keep qp a destructive fire oa the troop^ 
that had been repulsed towards the right, as they 
were endeavouring 'to escape. 

It was now about half after nine» when the enemy 
having learned by experience that h^ cpuld not hope 
to obtain any advantage over our troops, and per- 
suaded that he would greatly endanger his own safe- 
ty by continuing the combat in which he had already 
suffered so much, fell back to his camp, where all 
the troops passed the night under arms and widiout 
fire. 

During the engagement the second division ar- 
rived, and a considerably part of it was in the thickest 
of the fire. The fear of b^ing cut off from the sole 
communication he had with the fleet, made the ene- 
my take every precaution to prevent such a disaster. 
His posts were in continual alarm the whole night, 
and such were his apprehensions that he posted dou- 
ble lines of sentinels, so that as the one turned it was 
crossed by the other walking in a contrary direction. 

General Jackson seeing that the darkness render- 
ed it impossible for him to follow up victory any 
farther, was forced to content himself for the present 
with having convinced the British that Americans 
were not to be intimidated by the martial renown of 
the heroes of Wellington. He therefore led back 
his troops to their former position, from the principal 
entrance to the buildings of Laronde's plantation^ 
where they remained until four in the morning. Ge- 
neral Coffee took his position for the night in front 



HISTOEICAL MEHOIK. 101 

of Laronde's garden, on the kft of the other troops. 
About half after eleven a firing of musketry was heard 
in the direction of Jumonville's plantation. 

Thedetachment of the Louisianadrafted militia^ in 
cantonmentsat the Knglish Turn, under the command 
of brigadier-generalDavid Morgan, three hundred and 
fifty men strong, having learned, at about one o'clock 
in the afternoon, tl^at the enemy was on Villerg^s 
plantation, ran to their arms* and all the officers and 
privates desired to be led against him. General 
Mqrgaii} not having received orders to that efiect, 
did not think proper to yield to the earnest solicita- 
tions of the troops, whose impatience of inactivity 
increased every moment* At half after seven, when 
the report of the Carolina's guns struck their ears, it 
became almost impossible to huider the men from 
marching against the enemy; and at last general Mor- 
gan, at the pressing request of the ofiicers, gave or- 
ders to nuu-ch, whiph diffused jpy through the whole 
detachment. 

Having instantly set qut, it arrived at the entrance 
of the road to Terre-aux-Bopufs, during the hottest 
of the action, and continued to advance, preceded by 
twp piquets, the one o^ the high road, the other in 
the fields near the woods. The picquet that follow- 
ed tl\e high road, being arrived within a short distance 
of the bridgeover Jumonville's plantation, perceiving 
some of the enemy's troops, but not being able to as- 
certaui their number, hailed them; but receiving no 
answer, the picquet fired on the enemy^ who retum- 
cd their fire, and instantly fell back behind the canal. 



102 Sl^tORlCAX; UEJiOtk. 

Some men "were «ent on ircdnnohiiAg, t6 en- 
deavour to discover their strength, but without ef- 
fect. Su^cting an ambush, the battalion took a 
position in a neighbouring iield, where it remained 
until iibout three next morning, whc^ it was thought 
adviaable to return to the camp. 

General Morgan, not thinking it er^dieAt to (juit 
his position before day-break, held a council of all his 
officers, in which it was resolved that, as they were 
Ignorant of the position of the American army, it was 
advisable to march back to their station at the Turn, 
as soc»i as day appeared, which was executed accord- 
ingly. 

The battalion arrived in its cantonments early in 
the morning, after much fiitigue, having, from eight 
in the evening, marched fifteen miles in very muddy 
roads. Several soldiers belonging to the battalion, who 
had just left the hospital to march against the enemy, 
were obliged to remain behind, being exhausted 
with fatigue. These on their return, reported that in 
the same field in which the battalion had fomied in 
the night, there was widiin a short distance a British 
corps of six hundred men, who, probably thinking* 
the battalion stronger than it was, had not dared to 
attack it. 

From the most accurate information that cOuld 
be obtained, the enemy lost in diis afiair four hun- 
dred men. Their official report acknowledges three 
hundred and five killed, wounded or "Jwisoners: th<S 
number of the latter was eighty-five, including officers. 

The loss on our side was twenty-four killed, ori^ 
hundred and fifteen wounded, officers included, and 



HlSTOmCAJ' MElCOlli. 103 

seveiity-four prisoners, in all two handred and thir- 
teen 9K^B. 

Th^ loss of coioQ^l Inauderdiale^ of general Cof- 
fee's brigade of mounted riflemen, waa.panieularlgr 
regretted; he was a bf avQ bxmA accomplished oftcer; 
his death is lamented by all who knew him; and their 
only consolation is that he died at the post of honour, 
Qghting in defence Qf his country. 

Though the precise amount of the enemy's ibrxses 
in this action cannot, be exactly ascertained^ it is well 
known that half of general Keane's division was en- 
camped on the banks of the Mississippi, at the begin- 
ning of the attack; and that the remaining half of the 
division, which had embarked at tbe encampment on 
Jsle-auxrPois, in light vessels, several of which had 
run aground in the lake, had got on board of the barges 
that returned, after having landed the first half, and 
weredisembarking when the. cannon be^ to &ce; that 
the greater, part of theiM^ troops act out ionmodiately 
from the landing place, twx» milcta and a hajf from the 
Mississippi, and can towardts^the: field of battle, where 
their firsjL platoons had ahready.arriyod, before Coffee's 
division begun tq fire, and, where tbqy all successively 
arrived long before the action wan aver, as it lasted, till 
ten o'clock at night. 

That division, composed of the regMnents we 
have already mentioned* Cftuld nqt amount to less 
thap four thousand five, hqndi^ men, a^. we know 
the strength of each regiment. - 

The first disembaiika^icm. pqnsisted of the light 
brigade comuumdf4 bf. colonetThomton, composed 



104 



HISTORICAL MEMOIJR4 



of part of the 8Sth regiment, of 
95th do. ' (rifle corps) 
A detachment of sappers and miners 
A detachment of the rocket brigade, 

commanded by captain Lane 
4th regiment 

Total 
The 2d disembarkation consisted of 
the 21st regiment (royal North 
Britain) Fusileers 
44th do 
93rd do 

A number of artillerists amounting, 
according to the best information, to 



650 tncn 

500 

lOO 

80 
750 

2080 men. 



900 

750 

1100 

150 



In all 4980 men. 

On the supposition that each regiment left a party 
on board the vessels, to take care of the baggage, as 
is sometimes the case, there would still remain four 
thousand five hundred effective men landed on'the 
fiSd before nine o'clock in the evening; and indeed 
several accounts from Jamaica, Providence and Ber- 
muda, make the number amount to five thousand. 

Let us now see with what number, and what kind 
of troops, the commander-in-chief, general Jackson, 
attacked this enemy, so powerful, so enured to war- 
fare, preceded by a great reputation, and enjoying 
every possible advantage. 

The right, comtnanded by general Jackson in 
person, was compel of a detachment of marines, 



HISTORICAL H£MOI£* 105 

under the comnuind of lieut. Bellevue 66 men strong 

A detachment of artillery with two 
six pomiders, under the immedi- 
ate command of colonel M^Rea 
and lieutenant Spot 22 

7th regiment, major Peirt 465 

44th, commanded by captain Baker, 331 

884 

Major Plauche*s battalion. 
Carabiniers, captain Roche 86 

Dismounted dragoons, major 

St- Geme 78 

Louisiana blues, captain White 31 

Francs, captain Hudry 33 

Chasseurs, captain Guibert^ 59 

287 

The battalion of St. Domingo men • 

of colour, major Daquin 210 

Chactaws, capt. Pierre Jugeant 18 

^228 

The left, commanded by general Cof- 
fee, was composed as follows: 

Tennessee volunteer mounted rifle- 
men, forming general Coffee's 
brigade 563 

Orleans rifle company, capL Beale 62 

Mississippi dragoons, major Hinds 107' 

732 

In all 2131. 

Of this number it is to be observed that the Mis- 
sissippi dragoons were not in the action, but were, all 
the time it lasted, in the back ground of Lacoste's plan- 



106 UISTOmiCAL MEMOXl. 

tttioii. Two companies of CoflSx?s brigade had been 
left on the border of Laronde's fdantation, to hold 
the horses whose riders had all dismounted; wUch 
reduces the number of fighting men to about one 
thoi^sand eight hundred effective men. Plauch6's 
battalion being composed of companies wearing each 
a distinct uniform, the enemy took those several com- 
panies for so many battalions, and represented them as 
^ch. I have thought proper to rectify this misrepre- 
sentation, by stating the number of each particular 
company. 

This inconsiderable number of men,— strangers 
to the art of war, and of whom few had ever seen an 
engagement; but animated with that martial ardour 
which is soon excited in the breasts of men enjoying 
freedom, and indignant at seeing the soil of their 
country, the land of liberty, ihvaded by a mercenary 
soldiery, who came to renew in Louidana the scenes 
of devastation and pillage recently exhibited on the 
banks of the Potomac and the shores of the Chesa- 
peake, — advanced against the enemy with eager ala- 
crity. Several of the corps, particularly Plauch6's 
battalion, continued running as they advanced, till 
they arrived on the field of batde. All impatiently 
longed to be engaged and all were inspired with an 
auspicious presentiment of victory. In the heat of 
the action, the enemy was making towards the cen- 
tre a movement which seemed to indicate that he 
designed to charge with bayonets. Instantly, the 
desire of anticipating him electrified our ranks, and 
they all expressed a wish to be ordered to charge. 
This impetuosity, however, the officers thought pro- 
per to restrain. 



iltSTORICAL IfXHOIK. 107 

' . On the left of geneml Coflfee's divisioDi captain- .. 
Beale's whole ocMBpoiqr ^ li l uwBu penetrated inta 
die midst of die enemy, widMWt U ay ui ie to or. any- 
other weapon of defence, except their rifles; siq^MXsU 
ed by their courage, excited by their love for their 
country, and breathmg n^ and .vengeance agwist 
ittr invaders, these brave men, almost all fathers of fa- 
milies, holding offices of honour and trust, or at the 
head of cimsiderable commercial houses, regardless 
of all selfish or private considerations, advanced rash, 
ly into the centre of the hostile battalipns, where they 
made a number of prisoners, and carried them almost 
all off; but, unfortunately, hot widiout leaving seve- 
ral of their own companions prisoners to the foe. 

General Coffee's Tennesseans, those modest and 
simple sons of nAure, displayed that firm composure 
which accompanies and indicates true courage. In 
dieir expedition against Pensacbla, and on their march 
to New Orleans, they had given abundant proofs of 
their bravery, good conduct and patience^ in endur*> 
ing harddups and privations. Instinctively valiant, 
disciplined without having passed through the formal 
training of reviews and garrison jmaBoeu\Tes, they 
evinced on this memorable night, that enthu^asm, 
patriotism, and a sense of a just cause, which were 
of fiu* mc^ avail than scientific tactics. The heroes 
of Wellington, who boasted of their military talents 
and disciplined valour, were dten doomed, by woful 
experience, to appreciate the prowess of those warlike 
sons of the western country. 

The gallant officer who commanded them, ever 
calm, ever active, without precipitation, tranquilly 



108 MintOKXCAh MBMOM. 

giving orders, iiHiich he well knew how to cause to 
be pixonptly obeje^ vigjfent aod provident to avoid 
mmeeedsarily expoong his men, for whose safety he 
was as anxious as a father for his son's, acquired by 
his conduct that night the strcxigest claim to the es- 
teem and gratitude) c^ his country. Sensible that in 
an incessant fire most of the disctuo^es are ineffec- 
tual, general Coffee led on his men within a sure dis- 
tance, and continually passing along the line, recom- 
mended to them to take deliberate aim^ and nevor to 
fire at random. 

Notwithstanduig the darkness of the night, and 
the difficulty of manoeuvring with two pieces of can- 
non in a road forty feet wide, bordered with ditches, 
the artillery tock a position, and was served with the 
utmost promptitude. It several times forced the ene- 
my to abandon the road, and to retire to the levge, 
and behind gates and the ridges beside the ditches; 
in sh<»t, it contributed not a little to convince the 
enemy of our superiority. 

The 7th regiment, commanded by major Peire, 
withstood and kept up a very brisk fire; having first 
come into action, and having been the longest en- 
gaged of all the corps that took part in it, that gallant 
r^ment evinced that steadiness, precision in move- 
ments, regularity and promptitude in firing, implicit 
obedience to the orders of its commander, and, in 
short, proved that tlie discipline that constitutes troops 
of the line, do not exclusively belong to Europeans. 
The brave^.olicers of that regiment, sacrificing to the 
exigency of the moment, and to the safety of the 
country, all particular attachment to their own corps, 



^hich'is indeed natund and highly conducive to the 
united strength of an army, obeyed, without a mttr* 
mur, the orders <^ major Pdre, an officer drawn from 
another corps, whom general Jackson, in his discre- 
tion, had thought worthy to supply the place of their 
chief, major Nicks, who was prevented, by an acci- 
dental wound, from leading his men to victory. 

The 44tfa regiment, which came into action soon 
after the seventh, though yoimger, and formed of 
more heterogeneous elements, fought with the stea- 
diness and valour of veteran troops. Forced contl- 
nuMly to obHque to the left, to avoid, b^ing turned by 
die enemy, this regiment showed that it was not in- 
timidated by the enemy's manoeuvre, and vigorously 
returned his fire. Captain Baker, who ccHnmanded 
it, and all the officers under him, though young in 
die art of war, and litde acquainted with military 
evolutions, dbjdayed great bravery, and were not de- 
ficient in the skill and judgment that the occasion 
called for. 

Major Plauchg's battalion of volunteers, coming 
into the line at the moment when the enemy was 
pressing hard upon the left of the 44th, and endea- 
vouring to turn it, proved, by two or three brisk 
and well-directed fires, that it was worthy to be sta- 
tioned by the side of veteran troops. This corps, 
though composed of several independent companies, 
has ever been exemplary for perfect union, harmony 
and subordination. Several of its officers, who had 
formerly fbUowed the military profession, enjoyed 
the unlimited and well-deserved confidence of their 
men. These were ready to follow, wherever those 



110 HISTOAICAt VEX^IA. 

might lead the way; and to speak to the former (aU 
of whom were ckiseiis of New Orleans) of marchmg 
against the enemy, was sufficient to exhilarate their 
spirits, and fill their hearts with exultation. Almost 
the whole of lhe;n were Frenchmen by birth or de«> 
scent, ^and bore an inveterate hatred to GreatBritain, 
fit>m who$je government most of them had suffisred 
wroiq^ \diich they wished to avenge. On thb try- 
ing occasion they flew to^the defence of die countiy 
which had kindly received them, and of which ^y 
were become citizens, with the ardour and enthu- 
siasm so charstcteristic of the French nation^ Fir* 
suaded that musketry is often destructive,, without 
producing any decided eiB^ct, the men of this batta- 
lioi^ longed to chai^ with bayonets, and they ex- 
pressed their wishes by loud acciamalicMis. Already 
had die drums of the battalion began to beat in com-* 
pliance with their desire, and the men waited only 
for the word of command to fall on the enemy with 
their national weapon, when colonel Ross, who had the 
superior command of the two battalions of volunteers, 
came up to restnm their ardour. Yet, had that ma- 
noeuvre been made, had P]auch6's. battalion advanced 
to the charge, the enemy's retreat would have be^i 
cut oiF on his right, and he would have been cmn- 
pletely smrounded by general Coffee's brigade, which 
was advancing in his rear, Planch6^ battalion on hb 
left, Daquin's in front, and Laronde's great hedge 
of orange trees on the right; so that most of that co- 
lumn would have been forced to lay down their arms. 
The above observations, as to Plauchg's battalion, 
are almost wholly applicable to that commanded by 



HISTORICAL M£MOIR. Ill 

/major Da^uin. The men composing it had the 
same motives of hatred towards the enemy, and of 
gratitude to this country; for they were almost all 
men who had long and bravety defended their native 
country, St. Domingo, against the British, and against 
the rebels, who at length subdued it, and who, choos- 
ing rather to go into exile than to become accom- 
plices of the monsters who are desolating their na- 
tive shores, came to this hospitable land to find re- 
.pose in the peaceful exercise of Aeir industry* At 
the call of general Jackson«~atthe cry of honour and 
of war against Britain, those brave men instantly 
united and joined our forces. In diat memorable 
night they showed that they had not forgotten the- 
exercise of arms; and almost in contact with the ene- 
my on the left, they convinced him that in Louisiana, as 
fEMrmeriy in St« D<mungo, they should always expe*- 
rience from diem a vigorous opposition. 

It would not be proper for one whose name has 
appeared in general orders, to make particular men- 
tion of the several individuals who distinguished 
themselves on this occasion: he might expose him- 
self to be taxed widi partiality, cur even to be re<- 
proached with injustice. I therefore refer the rea- 
der, for such details, to the general orders, and to 
the major-general's letters to the secretufy of war. 
(See Appendix, No. Sfi.) 

But I cannot decline paying the tribute of jus- 
tice to general Jackson, to say that no man could 
possibly havQ shown more personal valour, more 
^nnness and composure, than was exhibited by him 
through the whole of this engagement^ an which de- 



I 
112 UISTO&XCAL M£M01R. 

pended, perhaps, the fate of Louisiana. I may say^ 
ivithout fearing to be taxed with adulation, that on 
the night of the 23d, general Jackson exposed him* 
self rather too much. I saw him in advance <rf all 
who were near him, at a time when the enemy was 
makuig a charge on the artillery, within pistol shot, 
in the midst of a shower of bullets, and in that situa- 
tion I observed him spiriting and urging on the ma- 
rines, and the right of the seventh regiment, who, 
animated by the presence and voice of their gallant 
commander-in-chief, attacked the enemy so briskly, 
that they soon forced him to retire. 



The result of the afiair of the 23d was the saving 
of Louisiana; for it cannot be doubted but that the 
enemy, had he not been attacked with such impe- 
tuosity, when he had hardly effected his disembarka- 
tion, would, that very night, or early next morning, 
have marched againtf the city, which was not then 
covered by any fortification, and was defended by 
hardly five thousand men, mostly militia, who could 
not, in the open field, have withstood disciplined 
troops, accustomed to the use of the bayonet, a wea- 
pon with which most of the militia were unprovided* 

Aware of thb, the commander-in-chief was sensi- 
ble of the necessity of immediately taking a position 
where he might throw up intrenchments; and accord- 
ingly, at four in the morning of the 24th, he order- 
ed his little army to go and encamp on the left bank 
of Rodriguez's canal, about two miles behind the 
field of battle, The Mississippi mounted riflemen, 



JIISTO&ICAL MEMOIR. 113 

and the Feliciana dragoons, with the 7th regiment, 
were left at Laronde's^ in order to observe the ene- 
my's movements. 

Early next morning the enemy was seen drawn 
up at the distance of about three hundred yards from 
Laronde's boundary, occupying the space between 
the two levees. (See »the plan of the affair of the 
23d.) On the front boundary line was stationed a 
strong detachment. Towards eight o'clock, tlie Bri- 
tish line broke, and the troops returned to their en- 
campment. They occupied the whole of the frotit, 
and the greater part of the back of Lacoste's planta- 
tion. The whole extent of its principal ditch was^ 
lined with British troops, and there ran an oblique 
line of sentries from their advanced-posts on the 
road to the wood. 

All this day our troops were employed in work- 
ing on the intrenchments on Rodriguez's canal; the 
two six-pounders that h,ad served on the preceding 
night were now mounted behind the line, on the 
bank of the river, to command the road. I received 
.orders from the commander-in-chief, to cause the 
levee to be cut, on the fore-ground of Chalmette's 
plantation, for the purpose of overflowing the ground 
in front of our line; which was effected by several 
trenches, which let i?i a sufficient quantity of water 
to render the road impracticable for troops. But the 
temporary swell of the river having subsided, that 
measure proved at last ineffectual, for on the 28th 
the river was nearly on a lever with the road. 

Nothing of importance t6ok place in the course 
of tiic three following days. Parties of our troops 



114 HtSTOJtICAL )f£3lOIR. 

frequently went out to reconnoitre. Major Hinds, 
with his cavalry, several time sdisplayed in sight of 
the enemy, who never ventured out of his position* 
In this interval he landed the rest of his troops, with 
his artillery, stores, and provisioniis. 

The enemy, on this and the following day, cut up 
the road by an epaulment with a ditch, on'the boun- 
dary line between Lacoste's and Lianmde's, at the 
distance of one hundred yards towards his encamp* 
ment, and at the back of the lev6e, opposite the sloop 
of war, the Louisiana, which was at anchor near the 
right bank. On ihe 26th, the enemy was employed 
day and night in preparing a battery on the most ad- 
vanced angle of the levge, towards the west side of 
Villere's plantation, for the purpose of firing on 
the schooner Carolina, which was at anchor near 
the right bank, opposite to it 

Major Nicks, who, by reason of an accidental 
wound, being incapable of active service, had been 
placed at the head of the arsenal and ordnance de* 
partment, the duties of which station he performed 
with a zeal worthy of the highest praise, had been 
ordered the preceding day to remove the powder 
which was stored in great quantities in the magazine 
opposite the city, on board a vessel prepared to de- 
ceive and convey it to Baton Rouge, reserving only 
such quantity as captain Humphreys should judge 
necessary for the daily service. 

On the same day it was reported verbally to ge- 
neral Jackson, that the enemy had landed at Chef- 
Menteur, and that, in consequence of that event, ma- 



RISTOftlCAL M£MOIft. Ill 

jor Lacoste, who«commanded the post at the conflu- 
ence of bayou Sauvage and Chef-Menteur river, had 
found himself under the necessity of abandoning it, 
and of removing his camp three miles back, on the 
principal plantation of Lafon. This report had 
alarmed all the troops stationed in the plain of Gen- 
tilly, insomuch that every officer and private appre-^ 
hended an attack, though in that quarter the enemy 
could make no movement, from which danger could 
be apprehended, without undergoing the greatest fa- 
tigues and surmounting unheard-of difficulties. Ma- 
jor Lacoste informed the generaUin-chief, by letter, 
of the movement he had concluded to make, to avoid 
being intercepted in his rear. The prairies of Chef- 
Menteur were at that time very dry, and several ba. 
yous admitted of the enemy's approaching within a 
very short distance of Lafon's principal plantation. 
Some soldiers had even seen and pursued in a prairie 
some British sailors, who had landed to set fire to the 
dry grass. Such circumstances indicated an intention 
in the enemy to penetrate on that side; and hence the 
retrogracte movement^ made by major Lacoste, was 
proper and judicious. When he determined on re* 
treating, he had the precaution to leave a piquet at the 
encampment he quitted, to give information of any 
movement the enemy might make by the river of 
Chef-Menteur. 

General Jackson ordered n^e to repair with all 
speed to Chef-Menteur, with a re-enforcement of two 
hundred men from general Coffee's brigade, com- 
mended by col^l N * * * *, who was to take 



116 HISTORICAL BfEMOIR. 

command of the post of Chef-Menteur, reoccupy the 
point of the confluence, finish the closed battery that 
had been begun by major Lacoste's battalion, and to 
leave on the main plantation a detachment sufficient 
to cover the retreat, in the event of its becoming ne- 
cessary, and keep open the communication with the 
city. As to the manner of executing these orders, 
that was left to the discretion of colonel N * * * *, 
xnajOT Lacoste, and myself. 

I must be allowed here to express the pleasure I 
felt on being ordered on such service. The perfect 
knowledge I had of the situation, which left on my 
mind no doubt of our being able, with three hundred 
riflemen, to rout ten times that number of the enemy, 
animated me with joyful assurance of success; and 
had the enemy, dared to penetrate into the wood of 
Chef-Menteur, the opinion I had of the Louisianians 
composing major {^acoste's battalion, and of die gaK 
lant Tennesseans, whom I was ordered to accompany, 
made me fully confident of his complete discomfiture* 

Xkx arriving at the advanced post on Bertoniere's 
estate, we discovered that the report of the land- 
ing of the enemy was false. It was decided that the 
detachment should encamp on Dreux's plantation 
until further oi'ders. The same day I repaired id 
major Lacoste's camp, which he had judiciously 
established, with the bivouacs close to the skirt of the 
wood, so that, in case of surprise, the men could in- 
9tintly get among the trees, from bdiind which they 
might fire with th^ more advantage, as they were OO) 
vercd by very thick underwood. 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 117 

On the same day general Morgan received orders 
to evacuate the post at the Turn, transporting the ar- 
tillery to fort St. Leon, and leaving there a garrison 
of one hundred men, and to take a position on the right 
bank, opposite Camp Jackson; which was according, 
ly executed, and the troops encamped on Flood's 
plantation. The two six-pounders placed opposite 
the road, under the command of lieutenant Spotts, 
were replaced by the twelves commanded by captain 
Humphreys, and were established in the centre of the 
line. 

Next day, the 26th, ms^or Lacoste returned with 
me to head-quarters, where he requested and obtain- 
ed permission for his battalion to take a station on the 
lines at Camp Jackson. Orders were given for his 
being relieved by the 4th regiment of Louisiana mi- 
litia, colcmel G. W. Morgan, one hundred and thirty 
strong, with two mounted companies of Tennesseans, 
a detachment of artillery of tlie line, commanded by 
lieutenant Bosque, with two field pieces, and about 
thirty Chactaw Indians. This force, commanded' by 
colonel G. W. Morgan, occupied the former position 
on the river of Chef. Menteur until the 6th of Janua- 
ry, when it returned to the camp of the main planta- 
tion. 

The general-in-chief sent orders to general Mor- 
gan to cause the lev6e to be cut below the ene- 
my, at Jumonville's, as near his posts as possible, 
in order to prevent his extending them. This ope- 
ration was promptly and successfully executed, un. 
der the direction of major Lafon, the engineer attached 
to the diyisiorf of the right bank, within musket-shot 



118 BIStoaiCAL HEUOIM* 

of the enemy's advanced sentries; but here, as bdbf% 
Jackson^s Imes, the river frustnrted our views; and a 
measure which, had the river continued to rise> 
would have made an island of the enemy's en- 
campment, and secured us from any attack, by 
forcii^ him to evacuate^ produced a very diffeienfc 
effect, as it introduced sufficient water into the canals 
and bayous, which till then were nearly dry, to ena- 
ble the British to bring up their heavy artillery. 

On the 27th, at 7 o'clock in the morning, the 
enemy opened on the Carolina the fire of a battery of 
several twelve and eighteen.pQunders,.and a howitzer, 
whi^ he had been forty-eight hours erecting. In 
about fifteen minutes, the schooner was set on fire by 
the red-hot shot thrown into her, and in that condi- 
tion the crew abandoned her. About an hour after, 
she blew up; and now the fire of the batteiy was di- 
rected against the Louisiana, whose preservaticm was 
the more important, as she was die only remaining 
armed vessel in the river, and as her powder maga-. 
zine was above water. Lieutenant Thompson, who. 
commanded her, endeavoured to take^ advantage of a 
light breeze firom the east, to saU up the river; but 
the wind having died away whilst the sails were un- 
furling, there remained no other expedient than that 
of towing her up. Accordingly, one hundred men 
of his crew soon towed her without the range of the 
enemy's guns, and she was moored opposite to Flood'a 
canal. In the evening, the 1st regiment of Louisiana 
militia, under colonel Dejan, was ordered firom it& 
position at Gentilly, and went to re-^orce the linesL 
on the left. 



HISTORICAL lIlMdXE. 119 



AFFAIR OF THE 2gth DECEMBER, 1814. 

In the evening of the 37th the enemy moved for- 
\vard> and by the superiority of his force, obliged our 
advanced-guards to fall back. He occupied Bienve- 
nu's and Chalmette's plantations; and during the night 
began to establish several batteries on the river. By 
break of day, he displayed in several columns, and 
ckove in all our advanced-guards. Our posts had till 
this day occupied Laronde's plantation, and our re- 
cemioitaing parties were extended daily as £ur as his 
lines. Major Hinds, with the cavalry and the 7th re- 
g^ent, had neglected no opportunity of harassing the 
enemy; and the advanced sentries and piquets had of- 
ten exchanged with him a few shots. The 2d regi- 
ment of Louisiana militia now took a position on the 
yth of the line. 

At length the BriMsh, having begun to push for- 
wards against our lines, all our out-posts fell back. 
The general-in-chief had ordered colonel Mackrea, 
the commander of the artillery, to fire and blow up * 
all the buildings on Chalmette's plantation, which lay 
within five or ^x hundred yards of our lines, as they 
protected the enemy from our artillery. This order 
was accordingly executed, but its execution could 
not be extended to Bienvemi's plantation, as expedi* 
euce required, and as the positive orders of the gene- 
ral-in-chief had directed. 

The enemy advanced in columns on the road, 
preceded by several pieces of artillery, some of which 
{rfayed on the ship Lottisiana, and the others, on our 



120 UXSTOaiCAL UMUOIK^ 

lines. The British, in this instance, gave a signal 
proof of their fM^sumption; and while we do justice 
to the bravery of their troops, we cannot but pity the 
infatuation of their commanders, who thus brought 
up their army to lines whiqh, though not completed, 
were yet. proof against musket- shot, and had already 
five pieces of cannon in battery. They thought, no 
doubt, to intimidate us by their boldness, hoping that 
the sight of a deep column marching against our 
lines, would strike ^uch terror as to make us abandon 
them, and retreat to the city; but they were greatly 
deceived. They did not yet know witli what adversa- 
ries they had to contend, nor that .they were destined 
to atone for their arrogance with streams of their blood* 
The Louisiana suffered the enemy's columns to ad- 
vance a considerable, spape; and as soon as they had 
got as near to her. as her commander wished, she 
opened on them a tremendous and well-directed fir$« 
This was at first briskly answered by the enemy's ar- 
tillery, which was soon silenced by the guns of th^ 
ship, and those of our lines. That very, morning the 
engineer, H. S. Boniieval Latrobe, had established» 
under the fire of the enemy's artillery and a cloud of 
rockets, a twenty-four pounder on the left of the bat- 
tery No. 1, on the line. This gun dismounted one 
of the field pieces which the enemy had placed in 
battery on the road. Captain Humphreys's battery 
had incessantly played upon and severely galled him 
from an early hour in the morning; but the guns 
of the Louisiana, from her position, were better 
calculated than any other to annoy him, as her broad- 
side was in an oblique direction to his line of march. 



-KtSr^ltlGAL lIBMOIfi. 121 

One single ball from her kiUed fifteen of his mem 
Her fire at last broke his columns, and forced them 
to disperse and fall back into the fields, where they 
look a position on Bienvenu's plantation, under cover 
of some buildings. 

It is but justice to say, that the services rendered 
on this day by the Louisiana, were of the greatest 
i&iportaQce. The cannonading lasted seven hours, 
during which she fired upwards of eight hundred shot. 
The spirited exertions of her commander, lieutenant 
Thompson, on that occasion, cannot be too highly 
Gommeuded. (See Appendix, No. 26.) 

During this engagement the enemy abandoned 
several batteries he had established on the river the 
preceding night; and his loss, in other respects, was 
considerable. 

Two days previous tb this engagement, general 
Carroll's troops had taken post on the prolongation of 
Rodriguez's canal, and had worked without intermis- 
sion at the breastwork of the lines, which, until the 
Ist of January, had towards the left hardly more than 
sufficient thickness to protect the men from musket- 
ry. During the whole day, the enemy incessantly 
threw Congreve rockets, which wounded some of our 
men. By one of these, major Carmick, of the ma- 
rines, had. his horse killed, and was himself woimded 
in the hand. The British had great expectation from 
the effect of this weapon, agmnst an enemy who had 
never seen it before. They hoped that its very noise 
would strike tferror into us; but we soon grew accus- 
tomed to it, and thought it little formidable; for in 
the whole course of the campaign, the rockets only 

n 



122 IflSTOBICAL MEMOXa. 

wounded ten men, and blew up two caissons. That 
weapon must doubtless be effectual to throw amongst' 
squadr(ms of cavalry, and frighten the horses, or to 
set fire to houses; but from the impossibility of di- 
recting it with any certainty, it will ever be a very 
precarious weapon to use against troops drawn up in 
line of battle, or behuid ramparts. 

The twenty-four-pounder just mentioned, was 
served in the beginning of the action by a detachment 
of captain St. Gemes's dismounted dragoons, and af- 
terwards by a part of the crew of the late Carolina, 
commanded by lieutenant Norris« About eight in 
the morning captain Dominique's artillery company, 
then about twenty men strong, returned from fort St. 
John, whither it had been sent on the 23d, and was 
stationed on the lines; to it was committed the 
service of a twenty-four-pounder, battery No. 3, 
which had been mounted the preceding evening. 
These mariners, all veteran gunners, served their 
piece with the steadiness and precision of men prac- 
tised in the management of cannon, and inured to 
warfare; and the battery No. 3 was not the least de- 
structive to the enemy during the campaign. 

Lieutenant Crawley, with another part of the crew 
of the Carolina, repaired to the lines on the morning 
of the 28th, and during the whole of the action serv- 
ed a howiczer at the battery No. 1. In the evening, 
general Jackson having ordered a thirty-two-pounder 
to be mounted in the centre of the line, lieutenant 
Crawley caused the platform to be established, and 
bad the piece mounted in the night. 

The first regiment of Louisiana militia had taken 
a position on the right, the preceding evening, and 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 123 

l-emained on the line during the whole of the. action 
<rf tihe 28th. On the morning of the same day, the 
2d regiment received orders to re-enforce the ex- 
tremity of the left, which was under the command of 
general Co&e. . 

We lost on that day seven men, and had ten 
wounded: amongst the former was colonel Hender- 
son, of the Tennessee division, under general Carroll. 
The enemy's light troops having advanced along 
a ditch to a fence which ran in an oblique direction to 
our lines, its extremity being only^at the distance of 
one hundred yards, opened an irregular fire on our out* 
posts: — general Carroll ordered colonel Henderson to 
advance with a detachment of two hundred men along 
the wood, and then to make an oblique movement on 
the right, towards the river, and endeavour to turn the 
enemy, who, by this manceuvre, would have been cut 
off. Instead of executing this order, colonel. Hen- 
derson advanced towards the right, leaving the fence 
between him and the wood: the enemy being thus 
covered T)y the fence, opened on our detachment a 
galling fire, which kill<^d the colonel and five men, 
and forced the others to fall back. The enemy r^-oc- 
cupied the fence, where he maintained his position 
until our artillery once more dislodged him. 

From the destruction that our artillery dealt in 
the enemy's ranks, and from the report of a prisoner 
and some deserters, the British must have lost from 
two to three hundred men on that day. 

The Louisiana had but one man slightly wounded 
by the bursting of a shell, and the vessel was struck 
under her bowsprit by a red-hot shot, but without 
receiving any damage. (See Appendix, No. 27.) 



124 HISTORICAL MBMOIb/ 

It appears that this attack was but a femt, to tiy 
what effect would be produced on raw troopt^ by the 
sight of columns marching, dispkiyiing, and forming 
in order of battle. But if after the night of the 23d 
the enemy could still have any doubt of our being 
firmly disposed to withstand him, the affiur of the 
28th must have convinced him that his manoeuvres ^ 
could no more intimidate us than his rockets, and that - 
in whatever manner he might attack us, he would 
fi;id men defending themselves with valour and intre- 
pidity, and determined to sell their lives dearly. That 
attack served at least to convince the enemy that he 
must expect a most obstinate resistance, if he at- 
tempted to force our lines; and that perhaps, after ha- 
ving sacrificed numbers of his men, he might be once 
more obliged to retire within his camp, with the 
diame of having made a useless and disgraceful at- 
tempt. He had now witnessed the effect of our ar- 
tillery, which was soon to prove to him, beyond all 
doubt, our superiority in skill, promptitude, and pre- 
dion in firing. 



It was ordered by general Jackson that fortified 
lines should be established on the right bank from the 
river to the Cypress swamp, behind general Morgan^s 
encampment. For that purpose I made choice of Bois- 
gervais' canal, three miles from the city. One hundred 
and fifty negroes, under the direction of Mr.Lefevre, 
in six days completed the parapet, the wh >le length 
of the canal, and le\nelled the earth to form a glacis 
on the opposite side. It wiU be seen in the sequel, 



BISTeilCAL 1IBM0I&. 125 

that it was behind those lines, which we had not time 
to comj^ete and secure with bastions and redoubts, 
that general Morgan s troops rdlied after their flight,^ 
on the menioraUe 8tfa of January. 

Captain Henley, of the late Carolina, came also 
next day to take command of a square redoubt, fcHtn- 
ed by a brick-kiln, c^)posite the city, on the very bank 
of the river. A fosse twenty-five fiset wide was 
dug all round it, and the earth from it served to 
form a very steep glacis from the summit of the 
wall, serving as a parapet, to die brink of the fosse. 
A palisade extended along its whole length on the 
inside. The redoubt was furnished with a small pow- 
der magazine, and was mounted with two twenty-four- 
pounders. Its battery commanded at onee the road, 
and the river. 

From all accounts it appears that at that time the 
British troops of the line amounted to between nine 
and ten thousand men. General Gibba' divi^on 
had landed, and sir Edward Packenham had taken the 
command of the army* The British head-quarters 
were at the house of general VillerS; their hospitals 
were established in the buildings of Jumonville's plan- 
tation, where their black troops were stationed. The 
British had taken all the horses belonging to the plan- 
tations, from fiienvenu's to Jumonv31e's inclusively; 
the finest were picked out for the officers of the staff, 
the others served to mount a squadron of dragoons, 
or to draw the artillery. Their reconnoitring par- 
ties advanced as &r as PhUipon's Klantation, where 
they established a post of black troops, which conti- 
nued there until their ^ final evacuation. The meat 



126 HISTORICAL MElCOIft. 

served out to the troops was at first supplied by the 
cattle of the several piantaticMis they occupied; and 
when this supply was exhausted, they had recourse 
to the cattle of the nearest plantaticms successively, 
as far as the end of Terre-aux-Boeufs, and even to 
^ Morgan's plantation at the Turn; the cattle of which 
they had almost entirely consumed at the period of 
their evacuation. . 

On the 29th lieutenant ^otts transported his two 
six-pounders to the extremity of the line, not far from 
the wood, and the detachment of the company of 
Francs, under the immediate command of lieutenant 
Bertel, established a platform for a twelve*pounder 
towards the left, between that of colonel Perry and 
that of lieutenant Spotts. 

Commodore Patterson, on that day, caused to be 
landed from^ the Louisiana two twelve-pounders, 
which he placed in battery behind the lev6e, in front 
(rf* Jourdan's plantation, on the right bank; and the 
following night he established a twenty-fbur-pounder 
beside the former. These pieces, with several others 
afterwards mounted, formed the marine battery, which 
rendered such important services during the remain- 
der of the campaign. They were served entire- 
ly by sailors, mostly landed from the Louisiana, 
who had been enlisted or pressed in the streets of 
New Orleans, after the capture of the gun-boats. 
Those sailors were almost all of different nations, 
hardly one-third of them speakifig. English: but the 
care of lieutenant Thompson, in establishing excel- 
lent discipline among them, rendered eminent service; 
for it may justly be said that never were guns better 



HISTORICAL UZMOIR. 127 

served. The position commanded the left flank of 
the enemy, who was compelled to remove his catnp 
to the back grounds of Laronde's and Bienvenu's 
plantations, and to abandon Chalmette's and Bienve- 
nu's houses, where several corps and officers had al- 
ready taken up their cantonments, in which the ma- 
rine battery never suffered them to enjoy one mo- 
ment's repose. All the buildings and fences of those 
plantations bear marks which attest how well the fire 
of that battery was directed. The enemy was even 
obliged to make several small epaulments, advanced 
one before the other, to cover the left of his camp, on 
the lower boundary of Bienvenu's plantation. The 
smallest group of British soldiers that was any where 
perceived, was instandy saluted with a discharge of 
cannon; so that this battery rendered it impossible for 
the enemy to attempt any reconnoissance on the 
river. 

From the 28th of December to the 1st of Janua- 
ry, the sloop of war every morning dropped down to 
the station which she occupied on the 28th, and re- 
turned every night Opposite Cazelar's plantation. 

In the evening, colonel Haines, inspector*general, 
accompanied by colonel Reuben Kemper, a volunteer 
in the Feliciana troop, went, by order of general Jack- 
son, to reconnoitre in the Cypress swamp on the 
left, and ascertained that it was impossible for the 
enemy to penetrate by that way. It even appears 
that he was himself under great apprehension from 
that quarter; for, daring the whole campaign, there 
was no instance of the enemy's having posted a sin- 
gle picket immediately on the skirt of the wood, so 



128 HISTORICAL IfEMOIB* 

much did he fisar lest our riflemen should come on 
him unawares, and lihoot down the men; to avoid 
which he kept his out*posts beyond musket-shot 
of the wood. The Tennesseans, on account of 
their well-known skill at the rifle^ were the terror of 
the British sentinels and advanced-posts. Their uni- 
form, consisting of a brown hunting dress, rendered 
it difficult to perceive them among the underwood 
and dry grass through which they approached* to 
riioot down the British sentinels, whom they never 
missed. One single incident, which occurred about 
that time, will suffice to give an idea of the dread in 
which die British were of the Tennesseans, whom 
they denominated dirty JurU. An old inhabitant of 
Tennessee obtained from his officers leave to go on 
what they called a hunting party. He stole along 
through ditches and underwood, till he got near a 
British sentinel, whom he immediately killed; and 
having seized his arms and accoutrements, he laid 
them at some distance from that pbce, and went to 
post himself in a different direction. Wlien it was 
time to relieve the sentinel, the eorpoml of the guard 
finding him dead, posted another in the same place, 
where the guard had hardly left him, when the Ten<» 
nessean shot him down; and having conveyed his arms 
and accoutrements to the spot where he had left those 
of the man he had killed before, he again went to lie in 
wait in (mother place. The corporal, in his next 
round, had again to relieve a dead sentinel, and the. 
man who took his place soon shared the fate of the 
two others; the Tennessean taking the same care to 






HISTOHICAL KfiMam. 126 

Xcurt bis arms and accoutrements, and then posting 
himself in another place. At last die corpora}, ama* 
zed to see that in one night three sentinels had been 
killed at ooe post, determined to expose no more 
men in so dangerous a spot* Our Tennessean seeing 
this, returned to camp with the spoils of the slain, 
and received the felicitations of his comrades. 

The company of marines, commanded by lieute- 
nant BcUevue, which, from the fines being first occu- 
lted, had been stationed in the centre, wa^s removed 
to the left, near lieutenant Spott's battery, where it 
continued until the evacuation. 

The 1st regiment of Louisiana militia, under 
cc^onel Dejan, was ordered lo take a position in the 
wood on the bank of the canal of Piemas's planta- 
tk)n. An advanced-post had been stationed at the 
mouth of the canal, in the bayou Bienvenu, for the 
purpose of watching the mfiOKeuvres which the ene- 
my plight attempt by that canal, at the mouth of 
which k was possible be might ascend with schoon- 
ers. The first re^ment was ordered tso fiirnish in- 
termedate posts, and to support them all in case of 
an attack. 

It was the moi:e knportsaU to guard the Piemas 
canal, as it was the only point by which the enemy 
could have penetrated, on ascending the bayou l^en- 
vcnu. 

General Jackson sent orders to the mayior of New 
Orleans, directing him to make domiciliary visits in 
town, for the purpose of ascertaining what ^rms wrre 
ih the possession of private persons. 



130 HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 

On the morning of the 30th, major-general Vil- 
Ier6, commanding the first division of Louisiana mili- 
tia, arrived from the Acadian coast, whither he had 
gone to forward the arrival of the militia, of whom 
thfee hundred next day encamped behind the Ime 
Dupr6. 

General Viller6 took also the command of the 
troops stationed on the Piernas canal. Major Hinds, 
at the head of the cavalry, went out on reconnoi- 
tring towards the enemy's advanced-posts on the 
right. His troop sustained the fire of all the out- 
posts, and three dragoons were wounded. Our ar- 
tillery, especially that of the centre batteries which 
was of heavy metal, galled the enemy without discon- 
tinuance. The thirty-two-pounder, commanded by 
lieutenant Crawley, and captain Dominique's tweaty- 
four-pounder, were principally directed against the 
redoubt which the enemy wbs throwing up towards 
the wood. Notwithstanding its great distance, most 
of the balls struck the parapet, demolishing the work, 
and killing many men. Neither did the marine bs^t- 
lery on the ri^t bank neglect any opportunity of 
annoying the enemy in his camp, or in his posts. On 
that day the enemy began to establish in front of 
Bienvenu's house, a battery of hogsheads of sugar, 
ranged on the lev6e. In our camp, great efforts were 
making to complete the platforms of the batteries, 
strengthen the parapet, arrange the tents in proper 
order, and prolong the lines into the wood. The re- 
ports of deserters stated, that the enemy expected 
shortly to receive considerable re-eiiforcements, and 
was bringing up heavy artillery to batter our breast- 
works. 



mSTORICAX. MEMOIB. ISl 

On the 31st, the enemy, who had already mount- 
ed a few guns on the redoubt erecting in front of 
our left, fired,on our advanced-posts, which had some 
skirmishes with those of the enemy. The cannona- 
ding continued cm both sides until two in the after- 
noon* The Louisiana supported our batteries with 
her fire, and contributed not a little to make the ene- 
my take refuge bdiind some buildings. One of his 
officers of enginea^, havii^ advanced to reconnoitre 
our iotoes and our lines, was killed by tl\^ advanced- 
posts. 

AH these movements and reccmnoitrings on the 
part of the .^nemy indicated an approaching attack^ 
Meanwhile we learned the capture of a schooner witli 
an officer and five men, made by our troops in the 
lake, near Chef-Menteun That schooner served to 
transport proviaons from the enemy's encampment 
on Pearl river, to his troops encamped on the bank 
of the Mississippi. In the night ftom the 31st De- 
cember to the 1st of January, the enemy erected two 
batteries at the distance of about six hundred yards 
from our tines, on a ditch running along the side of 
Chalmettje's plantation, the first being placed inadvance 
of the buildings of the plantation, and at the distance 
of three hundred and fifty yards from the bank of the 
river; and the second about three hundred yards far- 
then During the whole night was heard the noise 
of the men working at the platforms and mounting 
the pieces of cannon. 



13S ||I6TOAI€At MEMOIR^ 

FIRST OF JANUARY, 1815. 

The 1st of Jtiraaiy was usheil^d in wiA a verjr 
thick f6g^ which did not be§^ to disperse until to- 
wards 8 o'clock. As soon as die horizon began to 
dear up, the enemy c^eneda v^ bri^dL fire from his 
three batt^ies, of wluch the left, established* on the 
poad, mounted two twelve-pounders; the centre, eight 
eighteen-pounders, and twenty-four-pound canx>n- 
ades, and that on the right towards the wood c^posite 
our lines, mounted eight pieces of cannon and cannon- 
ades. A cloud of Congreve rockets accompanied 
the balls, and for fijfteen minutes die fire was kept up 
wiA unexampled celerity* The first discharges of 
the two batteries nearest the river, were principally 
directed against Macarty's house, where the head- 
quarters were established. In less than ten minutes, 
upwards of one liundred balls, rockets and sheDs 
struck the house, and rendered it impossible to re- 
main there. The general-in-cbief and ail his staff 
were in the apartments when the firing began; but 
though bricks, sjdinters <rf* wood and fomiture, rockets 
2lnd balls, were flying in all directions, not a single 
person was wounded. This fierce attack of the ene- 
my's artillery, was answered by ours with a brisk, 
steady and well-directed fire, which in less than an 
hour made his slacken m a rery perceptible degree. 
Th^ cannonading however still continued to be kept 
up, vigorously on the part of the enemy, but witK 
more precision and more effect on ours. 

The enemy's object was to silence our artillery 
and make a breach in the breastwork of our lines, 



HISTORICAL MKJKOIA. i^S 

with a view to puah od lo the aosault. Fdr this pur- 
pose the troops were in readiness^ drawn up m seve- 
ral parallel lines; but prudently waifing in die b^tdc 
ditdies, and in the intervals between die batteries, 
&r the fevourable moment to advance to the attack of 
our line& But on this occasioni as on the 28th of 
December^ his expectations wett frustrated; and in- 
stead of intimidating us by his Artillery^ he sMn 
perceived ^bc superiority of ours. 

Yet every advantage was on the side of the eae» 
my; his' batteries presented but a narrow from, and 
very little elevation, on a spacious plain, the so3 of 
which was fix>m four to siJ: feet below the level of our 
platforms; his gutmers had for a target a line about 
one thousand yards long, the top of whose parapet 
was eight or nine feet higher than his plat&rnUH^ 
whilst our batteries might be said to have only points 
to aim at, and our balls could not rebound on s6 soft 
a soil. Our batteries were the principal obj^t 
against which the enemy's fire was directed; but we 
were not less intent on demoUshing his; f^ in abobt 
an hour's timp, our balls dismounted several ai his 
guns; and when the firing ceased the greater part of 
his artillery was unfit for service. Justice obliges lis 
to acknowledge that the fire of the Biitish was for a 
l<»ig time vigiMTOUsly kept up and well directed. We 
had the carriage of a twenty-four«pounder broken by 
one of their balls, at captain Domiiuque's battery, 
and that of the thirty-two-pounder, commanded by 
lieutenant Crawley of the navy, was also damaged by 
a ball; the fore-train of the twelve-pounder of gtnehd: 
^Ganigues was likewise broken by the boils of the 



134 HISTORICAL MEMOIR*. 

enemy. Tbe cheeks of the embrasures of our batte^ 
ries were formed of bales of cotton, which the ene- 
ray's balls struck and made fly in all directions; the 
rockets blew up two artillery caissons^ in one of 
which were a hundred rounds. When the enemy 
perceived this accident, he suspended his fire for 
some seconds, and the troops ranged in th^ ditdies, 
with those at the batteries, gave three ^eers, which 
were instantly answered by a general discharge of all 
the artillery of our lines. From that moment the 
enemy's fire began to slacken in a very perceptible 
degree, owing probably to his being convinced of die 
inutility of his attempt, and to the great number of 
his guns which our artillery had dismounted. 
About. ten o'clock the enemy ordered some platoons 
of sharp-shooters to penetrate into the woods on the 
left of pur Ihie, with a view to ascertain whether it 
could be turned; but he soon perceived, fit>m the 
brisk fire of our musketry, that on the left we were 
as well- prepared to receive him as on the right Part 
of general Ccdfee's brigade stationed in the fosse, two 
hundred yards behind the line, received orders ta 
move forward towards tbe wood, b order to sup^Kirt, 
if necessary, the troc^s stationed immediately on the 
line; but Wellington's heroes discovered that they 
were ill qualified to contend with us in woods, where' 
they must fight knee deep in water and mud,^-«nd 
tliat the various kinds of laurel which abound in 
Louisiana, in the cypress swamps and prairies, were 
not intended to grace their brows. Yet of these lau- 
rels there never was;a£drer <^portunity of making 
an ample provi»on; and the species called by bota<» 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. \55 

tiists the laurel of conquerors, is found at every step 
in the woods and prairies of Louisiana. But on the 
other hand, cypress trees are still more common; the 
country presenting one continued forest of them on 
each bank of the river, for upwards of one hundred 
leagues in length; and such of the British troops as 
lived to return home, must have made known in En- 
gland how provident nature has been in accumula- 
ting, as it were, on the banks of the Mississippi, the 
emblem of the disasters which will ever attend the 
invaders of that country. 

The fire continued to slacken until noon, and at 
one o'clock the enemy's two batteries towards the 
right ^ere abandoned. That on the road still conti- 
nued to throw a few balls and rockets until three in 
the afternoon, by which time they were s^U silenced. 
His troops at last retired to their camp, persuaded 
that it was not practicable to make the assault, after 
having continued in the ditches from early in the 
morning. Our loss of men that day was very incon- 
siderable, in comparison with that of the enemy, and 
considering the long continuance of an intense fire; 
for it amounted to no more than thirty-four wounded 
or killed, eleven of the latter being persons going to 
or returning fiom camp, who were killed on the road 
behind the lines, by the enemy's shells or balls whidh 
were shot over the breastwork. About two hun- 
dred yards behind tiie line, on the river, near the 
banky lay a boat laden with militaiy stores, which was 
struck by several of the enemy's balls, and was on 
die point of sinking, when we succeeded in saving 
the greater part of the stores. 



136 HIS70SICA£ MXlMIt. 

Tht batteries that lik enemy had on the river in 
front of Chalmette's and Biniventt's housea, continii* 
•d likewise the whole day to exehange riiots with 
those of commodore Paitterson; and although the bdls 
went through the breaatworic^ and the shells fell in 
great numbers in the batteries and on the road, the 
eomwiodore lost not a single man, nor wa3 his fire for 
a moment less intense than that of the enemy. It is 
psesmnable that in establiahing batteries on the river^ 
the enemy's object was not to command the passage 
of it, or to do any mischief on the other bank; bdt 
merely to destroy the Louisiana: and indeed several 
deserters reported that for that purpose he coostandy 
kept redJiot balls ready to fire on her the moment 
she came within the range of his guns.— -(See com* 
modore Patterson's fetter to the Seeretairy of the Na- 
vy, Appendix No. 38.) 

Major-general Thomas, ooanmanding the seoxnd 
division of Louisiana militia^ arrived the same daj 
with five hundred men from Baton Rouge, and en« 
camped on Dupri's planfeatioo. During the remain- 
der of the day, the enemy was busily employed in 
wovking on the square redoubt he had begun, facing 
our feft, nor did our heavy pieces of artillery cme mo- 
ment cease firing on his working parties, and they al- 
ways fired with sttcoeaa. The officer commanding 
those parties stood upon die parapet, and as soon as 
he perceived the fire, of our guns, he gave a signal to 
his men, who instantly stXK>ped down behind the pa- 
ra^t. 

The redoubt which stood on Bieaveou's planta- 
tion towards the wood, was of a quadrilateral form, 



HlSTtHICAL HElfOiR. 137 

>its interior dimensionfi being eighty, sixty^two, one 
hundred and eight, and seventy feet. Two embra- 
sures were made on the small front opposite our lines. 
But forming an angle with them. Each of the late- 
ral fronts had likewise an embrasure in the middle^ 
and that on the back had an opening twelve feet wide, 
serving as an entrance^ and covered by a traverse 
within the fort. Along the intervals between' the em- 
brasures above the ground, ran banquettes raised 
three feet, for the musketry^ 

The parapet, which was fourteen feet thick at the 
base, and nine at the summit, had battlements for the 
miislcetry oh three aspects; a fosse from twelve to 
fifteen feet wide and three deep surrounded the re- 
doubt. That work had probably been made by the 
enemy in apprehension of an attack by the wood, 
with a view to protect die pickets posted on that side. 
Some days after, the enemy established anothei" re- 
doubt in advance of this, towards our lines, on the 
ditch separatmg the plantations of Bienvenu attd 
Chalmette. This latter redoubt was smaller in its di- 
mensions, and had an embrasure in each of the angles 
towards our lines. In erecting this redoubt, tiie ene- 
my experienced the greatest difficulty, being oon- 
standy galled by our artillery, which mowed down 
the working parties. He again called in his out- 
posts on the 1st of January, as he had done after 
the afiair of the 28th of December. On all that space 
from C^ialmette's old plantation in the direction of the 
furthest redoubt, there were no troops to bt seen ex- 
cept near the river. The batteries had been dis- 
mantled during the night, and with muj&h difficulty 



138 HlStOfiICAL«M£|tOIlt. 

their guns were removed, by being dragged through 
the mud. 

On the 2d, early in the morning, several parties 
went out to view the enemy's batteries, where they 
found some barrels of powder, a large quantity of 
cannon balls and implements of artillery, with broken 
gun-carriages belonging to the navy, and carronades 
which our balls had shattered. 

General John Adair arrived at head-quarters, and 
announced the speedy arrival of the Kentucky militia, 
whom he had left the day before at Lafourche. 

General Jackson, being desirous of ascertaining 
whether the enemy, by ascending the bayou Bien- 
venu, above the Piernas canal, could possibly pene- 
trate either towards Chef-Menteur or towards the 
bank of the river, ordered colonel Reuben Kemper, 
a volunteer in the Feliciana troops, to go down with 
a detachment along Dupre's canal, cross the cypress 
swamps and prairies of the basin of Gentilly, and 
penetrate to the post of Bertonmere, on the Chef- 
Menteur road; which orders colonel Kemper exe- 
cuted, jiot without encountering numerous difficul- 
ties. The impossibility of the enemy's penetrating 
by that way, was thus fully ascertained, and all unea- 
siness on that score removed. 

During the night of the 3d of January, word was 
brought to general Jackson that the enemy had as- 
cended bayou Bienvenu as far as tl\e forks of the 
Piernas canal, where he had landed in considerable 
force. This movement indicated a design to inter- 
cept us in the rear. The general instantly ordered 
major Davis, assistant inspector-general, to take with 



filSTOKICAL MEMOIR* 139 

him two hundred men of general Coffee^s brigade, 
and proceed to ascertain whether the report were true; 
and in case of the enemy's having really landed, to 
push on, and drive him into the bayou. Major Davis 
lost no time in executing these orders, and notwith* 
standing a heavy rain, and the badness of the road, io 
which the men sunk up to the knee in mud, the de- 
tachment reached the point indicated, where they 
did not find a single British soldien 

General Jackson, an^tious to know whether there 
existed any possibility of the enemy's penetrating on 
that side, ordered colonel Kemper to choose out 
twenty volunteers from the different corps on the lines, 
and with them to descend the Piernas canal, as far as 
its junction with baf ou Bienvenu, and this latter as 
fer as its junction with bayou Mazant, if possible, 
and there reconnoitre the enemy's position. Owing 
to the difficulty of procuring boats, colonel Kemper 
was forced to undertake this service with only eleven 
men, whom he led that evening to the prairie, where 
they passed the night. Early next morning they 
proceeded on their way down the bayou, occasionally 
climbing up the trees on the bank, to see whether ^ 
they could thence discover the enemy. At last they 
arrived sufficiently near the junction of the two ba- 
yous to perceive the fortified enclosure the enemy had 
there formed. Colonel Kemper, leaving the boats 
with some men to guard them, endeavoured to ap. 
proach and reconnoitre the enemy from the prairie; 
but soon met with the obstruction of a bayou^ 
which obliged him to return; when he was about half 
a mile from the point where he had left his boats, he 



perceived the enemy ascendiiig the b^yqp ^o ^ye 
small vessels, and distinctly s^iKf $^ilQrs Ipol^pg out 
from the mast head. When tljope ye^^el^ gpt pejf 
our boats^ they fired two m^sket-shot^ m thos^ who 
were left to guard them; pn which fqur of tl^p ran 
and escaped, and one yas taken prisPAcn The eAe- 
my proceeded up the bayou, setting fire to the p^iie 
as he advanced, so that whoever h^i^ened to be in it, 
had to run from the flames rapidly gaining on the gfass, 
which, as we have already seen, is of considerable 
height, and as thick as wheat in a fiekL At lei)^, ^- 
ter ^reat fatigues, the colonel, and part of his detach- 
ment, arrived in camp next day by nine o'clock; the 
others, who, having escaped from the boats, took 2^;i. 
other road, had reached camp Urn preceding day to- 
wards evening. 

Thisi reconnoitring discovered to us the e^e^ay's 
position in the bayous, and on their banks. It yfw^ 
ascertained that at the forks of Villere's caiial, and 
bayou Mazant, where he effected his landing, he had 
thrown up a^ breastwork, within which he had buiJlt 
magazines for stores^ which were guarded, fay a strong^ 
detachment; he had alsp an advanced aentimpl con- 
itantly posted in a tree, which commanded a view of 
the whole prairie and of the bayous. 

The precaution the enemy had taken to set fi^e 
to the prairie on the banks of bayou Bienvenu, leaves 
no room to doubt of his having apprehended an atr 
tack on that side. Had we indeed been stronger in 
troops, and better supplied with boats^ we might, dy- 
ring the night, have descended bayou Bienvenu, as 
far as its junction with bayou^ Maz^t, and thence 



feascendiDg t}ie latter, have surprisi^^, or at least at- 
t^ckefl th^ir post 9t tb^ mouth of ViUer^'s c;«iu4* 

On the 4th of January the dn^d mUitia from 
Kentu<;:fcy, to the nunri:)er of two thoosaad two hun- 
dred and fifty, 9rriv^ in town^ and went to encamp 
on Prevo3t's plantation. On the following day seven 
hundfed and ^fty gf th^m, but only five hundred and 
fifty being armed, repaired to the lines, and encanap- 
ed at some distance in ^e rear« All these troc^s were 
under the command of major-general John Thomas, 
and brigadier-general John Adair, acting adjutant* 
genml, took, the ccmmand of the troops detached to 
the lines.^ 

* The deplorable coziditioQ of a great number of milkU- 
men of this and the adjacent states, who were in want of cloth- 
ing, in an ixiclem^t season, and obliged by the nature of the 
service to be constantly exposed in the open air, excited the stom 
nV^tf. of the citixenB. Mr. Louailiier, the elder, a member of 
the house of representatives, obtained from the legislature the 
sum of six thousand dollars, which was put at the dispoaitdon of 
a committee toruLed fiu* their relief. SubscriptionB were also 
opened at New Orleans, for the same purpose, and ano- 
ther sum of six thousand dollars was soc^. subscribed; and 
it is to b0 dl)tetved that the Orleans volunteers and militia, 
not sa^fij^d with disclmrging their duty to their country, bf 
their presence in the camp, sent for a subscription list, and 
filled it with their signatures. The county of the German 
coast subscribed about three thousand six hundred and that 
of Attakapas remitted to the committee five hundred dol- 
lars. The whole sum thus obtained, including what was voted 
by the legislature, amounted to sixteen thousand one hundred 
dollars) and was laid out in puinrhasing blankets and woollens, 
which were difitributed among the ladies of New Orleans, to be 
made into clothes* Within one week twelve hundred blanket 
cloaks, two hundred and seventy -five waistcoats, eleven hundred 



142 HISTORICAJL M£MOI}». 

Li a letter of iiie 3d of January to the secretary 
of war, the general complains that the arms sent from 
Pittsburgh arc not yet arrived, expressing his appre- 
hensions as to the consequences with which this de- 
lay may be attended, and the efftct these may have 
with regard to the issue of the war in this country. 
'* Hardly," says he, " one third of the Kentucky 
troops, so long expected, are armed, and the arms 
they have are not fit for use." Jusdy does the general 

and twenty-seven pairs of pantaloons, eight hundred shirts, four 
hundred and ten pairs of shoes, and a great number of mattresses, 
were made up, or purchased ready made, and distributed among 
our brethren in arms, who stood in the greatest need of theipu 
Though the gratitude of their fellow citizens, and the conscious- 
ness of their patriotic service, be, to Mr. Louaillier, and to 
Messrs. Dubuys and Souli6, who co-operated with him in his 
honourable exertions, a sufficient reward, yet I must be allowed- 
to pay those gentlemen the tribute of applau9e so justly due to 
them. 

In the course of the campaign several fathers, or men who 
were the support of families, among the volunteers and militia 
of the state, having been killed or wounded, those who depend- 
ed on them for support were left in the greatest distress; where- 
fore the legislature, on the 6th of February, enacted that the 
pay of wounded men should be continued till the end of next ses- 
sion, and that the families of those slain in the service ^of the 
country, should receive pay f<ir the deceased, until the same pe- 
riod. With pleasure I take this opportunity to do justice to 
the patriotic and highly praiseworthy conduct of the legislature, 
not only on this occasion, but during the whole session. ' The 
sole reproach that attaches to them, is their having, early in the 
session, spent, in unimport^Lnt discussions relative to elections, 
much more time than was consistent with a due regard to the 
exigencies of the critical circumstances in which we then were-. . 



HISTOBlCAt HEMOIIL. 14i3 

complain of the Conduct of the ageote of government, 
and presages that the defeat of our armies, and the 
dishonour not only of the officers commanding them, 
but of the nation, must inevitably be the consequence 
of so defective an administration. The general con- 
cludes by informing the secretary of war, that the 
enemy appears intent on fortifying his portion;' that 
it is doubtful whether he will renew his attacks, or 
change the seat of war; that in either case he has 
made the best disposition of the troops he commands 
(much inferior in number to those of the enemy) to 
act as circumstances may require. 

Our artillery continued, in the meantime, to fire 
on the enemy, and whenever a group of four or five 
men showed themselves, they were instantly dispers- 
ed by our balls or shells. The advantage we derived 
from that almost incessant cannonading on both banks 
of the Mississippi, was that we exercised our gun- 
ners, annoyed the enemy to such a degree that he 
could not work at any fortification, nor, indeed, come 
within the reach of our cannon by day, and was dcr 
prived of all repose during the night* 

From the report of * some deserters, we learned 
Ihat a re-enforcement of troops, under the command 
of major-general Lambert, had lately arrived in the 
Britbh camp, and that the enemy intended shortly to 
make a general attack. For some days past, the com- 
munication between the fleet and bayou fiienvenu 
had been unusually active. 

The 2d regiment of Louisiana militia was order- 
ed to cross the river, to re-enforce general Morgan's 



144 HZ8TO»x0Air xxicoia. 

caaq>. At the ciDaAuence of die Piemas canal and 
bayou Bienvenu, wa» establiabed a post of cavalry^ 
cQtmbting of a detachmem of captain Ogdra^s com- 
pany of dragofuis. 

Un the 6th of Jmuhx^, sailfatg^master Johnson 
left ChiGrfJMimteur witii. three boaid under his com^ 
mand, ag&d ancceeded in burning a Bridsh brig load^^ 
ed with< nun and biscuit, on her way to die fl^et at 
bajrou BienvenUi On d|is occasion wt took ten 
prisoners, dfnd from' them we learned' that the encteiy 
was digging out ViUet^^s* omaU and estllendiiig itj ih 
Older to get hi^ boats into the river. 

On the 6th and 7th an unusual stir and bus- 
tle appeared to prevail- amongst the ei4€fmy. Both 
banks of Viller6?s canal/ were covered with soldiers 
and sftilorsi who seemed 'tb be employed in dragging^ 
bdats; tttx)ps were frequently observed exercising en', 
reviewu^y.and every thing aiinounced an aj^rbaeh* 
ing attacks Gommodoie Patterson had gone down^ 
on the right bank^ to the point opposite the mouth o£ 
the canal, where he asoertained the movements of At 
enemy. 

In the moming'Of: the 6th^e began to establish a 
small i^edoubt for two sks-pounders, on that part oF 
tibefatflt of the river which joined the extremity of 
the ri|^ of our> Hoe, from which it was separated by* 
the ditch, which in- that part was very shallow, and- 
Without any water. This redoubt had two embra^ 
sures, which commanded the road and tte river bank, 
and anoAer which fiaiiiked the front of the line. A 
shallow fosse^ which- was also without water, in con- 
sequence of the river's having fallen, sufrounded the 



HISTORICAL MEMOIB. 145 

redoubt, whkh was not yet completed (Hi the mom* 
higofthe 8d). 

Before I proceed to relate the events of th^ 8th of 
Januaty, a d^ofeyer-glorious memory in the annals 
of America, and especially"iin3ioseDf"fcouisiana, I 
think it not unseasonable here to describe those Imes, 
before which was performed the most important mi- 
litary exploit of the whole war, and, considering local 
circumstances and the respective forces contending, 
that which reflects on America the highest glory. 

Vjackson's lines, within five miles of the city of 
New Orleans, and running along the limits of Rod- 
riguez's andChalmette's plantations, formerly the pro- 
perty of the United States, were but one of those an- 
deiit mill-races, so common in Louisiana, extending. 
from the bank of the river to the Cypress swamp. It 
has been already seen, from my description of the 
form of the soil in Lower Louisiana, and from its 
shelving from the river towards the swamps, that 
when the Mississippi is swelled to its greatest height, 
the level of the surface of its waters is some feet above 
that of the contiguous soil, and from twelve to fifteen 
above that of the prairies and bayous, which at those 
periods receive the waters flowuig from tlie Missis- 
sippi. 'To add to the mass and the force of the wa- 
ter, the planters dig canals a few feet deep, tiirowing 
the earth on both sides, so as to afford a mass of wa- 
ter from eight to eleven feet deep; and aX the head of 
these ^anals, \^ich are commonly twenty -five feet 
wide, are constnicted saw-mills. The canal on which 
Jackson's lines were formed, had long been aban- 
doned, having no longer any mill tp.tum^ so that its 



146 HISTORIGA& MBHMA. 

bankfi had falkti iti and raised its botton, viiiidi Was 
covered with grass, presenting rather the apt^tfanoe 
of an old draining ditch than of a canals On ^btt 24th 
df December, general Jackson had taken this poai- 
tion( and that it was well chosen, will sufficiently ap- 
pear on an inspection of the mao^Plate N04 5.) Z 
will only observe, that thosejiiv^leave the least pos- 
sible space between the river andihe jaoood, a nd ^ t 
froST the lines tctVillcr€'s canal^ the depth of the 
high-land continually increases, and is at Laronde's 
plantation nearly three timefe as great as^t the lines. 
As sooa-as this position was chosen,«^die 'frodps be- 
gan to raise a parapet, leaving the ditth as JiJKas, 
except that by cutting the road it was laid under 
water, as there was then"atcinporaiy rise 4jf the river* 
Earth was fetched from the^rear of the line and 
thrown carelessly on the left bank, where the earth 
had been thrown when the H^anal was originally dug. 
The bank on the right side being but little elevated 
above the soil, formed a kind of glacis. All the pales 
of the fences in the vicinity were taken to line the 
parapet, and prevent the earth from falling into the ca* 
nal. All this was done at various intervals, and by 
different corps, owing to the frequent mutations in 
the disposition of the troops. This circumstance, 
added to the cold and to incessant rain, rendered it 
impossible to observe any regularity as to the thick- 
ness and height of the parapet, which in some places 
was as much as twenty feet thick at the top, though 
hardly five feet high; whilst in other places the ene- 
my's balls went through it at the bas^. On the 1st 
af January there wia but a very small proportion of 



HISTORICAL MHlfOIH. ^ 147 

t he lioe liiBiip to widistaiid tii^^^^s; but on Ihe 8di of 
Januuy the whole extent, ^a^Likr m. thcjEOodt^- w<is 
proof against (^enemy's caoDQii. The length of the 
lines was eight hundred and fifteen toises, or about a 
mile, somewhat more xbm half of which ran from the 
river to the wood, the reni^der extending into the 
depth, where the line took a direction towards the 
left, which rested on a cypress swamp almost inqKiss- 
able* On thut p^ of the Un^ which was in the 
wood, the breastwork was not thicker than w^s ne- 
cessary to cesist musketry; it was formed of a double 
row of logs, l^d one ov<^r the other, leaving a space 
of two feet, which was filled up with earth. Alqng 
one part of the line ran a banquette; in some parts, 
the height of the breastwork above the soil was 
hardly sufficient to cover the men. The earth thrown 
up to form the breastwork, had been dug out at va- 
rious intervals, and without any order, the rainy 
weather not admitting of the work's being carried on 
with regularity, as observed before* 

Thf artillery was distributed on the lines in the 
following manner* On the soil of the road within 
the kv^ was battery No. 1, commanded by captain 
Humphreys, of the U. S. artillery* It consisted of 
two brass twelve-pounders, and a six-inch howitzer, 
on fidkl carriages; these pieces enfiladed the road to- 
wards that side where the enemy was posted, and their 
fire grazed the parapet of the flank of the redoubt, 
tGwards the right. Battery No, 1, was seventy feet 
fix>m the bank of the river. The two twelve.pound- 
ers were served by soldiers belonging to the regular 
artillery, and the howtzer by dragoons of major St, 
Geme's company. 



148 HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 

Battery No. 2, which had * twen^-foor-pouoder^ 
was cominandcd by lieutenant Norris^ of the navy, 
and served by part of the crew of the late schboner 
Carolina; its distance from No. 1 ivas ninety jrards. 
This battery was the most elevated above the soil. 

Battery No. 3, commanded by captains Domi- 
nique and Bluche, commanders of privateers, had two 
twenty-four-pounders, ^hich were served by French 
mariners; its distance from No. 2 was fifty yards. 

Battery No. 4, commanded by lieutenant Craw- 
ley, of the navy, and served by part of the crew of the 
Carolina, had a thirty-two-pounder; its distance from 
No. 3 was twenty yards. 

Battery No. 5, commanded by colonel Perry and 
lieutenant Kerr, of the artillery, had two six-pound- 
ers; its distance from No. 4 was one hundred and 
ninety yards. 

Battery No. 6, commanded by general Garrigues 
Flaujeac, and served by a detachment of the compa- 
ny of Francs, under the immediate command of lieu- 
tenant Bertel, had a brass twelve-pounder; its distance 
from No. 5 was thirty-six yards. 

Battery No. 7 ha^l a long brass eighteen-pound 
culverine, and a six-pounder, commanded by lieu- 
tenants Spotts and Chauveau, and served by gunners 
of the U. S. artillery; its distance from No. 6 was 
one hundred and ninety yards. 

The 8th battery had a small brass carronade, 
which rendered verj*^ little service, on account of the 
ill condition of its carriage; it was commanded by a 
corporal of artillery, and served by militia men of ge- 
neral Carroll's command; its distance from No. 7 was 
sixty yards. 



HISTORICiALlfBMOIlt. 149 

Next to this piece the line foxtaed a receding 
elbow, as laid down in the draught of the affiur of the 
8th — (See Atlas, Plate No. 7.) — enormous. holes in 
the soil made impassable by their being full of wa« 
ter from, the canal, rendered this bend in the line 
unavoidable. 

From this bend, where the wood began, to the 
extremity of the line, the ground was so low, and so 
difficult to be drained, that the troops were literally 
encamped in the water, walking knee deep in mud; 
and the*several tents were pitched on small isles or 
hillocks, surrounded with water or mudJ 

It was here that the brave troops of generals Car- 
ro}l and Coffee, from the 24th of December, 1814^ 
and part of those of Kentucky, from the 6th, until the 
20th of January, 1815, gave an example of all the 
military virtues. Though constantly living, and even 
sleeping, in the mud, those worthy sons of Columbia 
never uttered a complaint, nor showed the lest symp* 
tom of discontent or impatience. T hose who hav e 
not seen the ground, cannot form an idea of the de- 
plorable conditipn of the troops encamped on the left 
of the line. But it was necessary to guard that quar- 
ter against the attacks of the enemy; it was neces- 
sary that troops should be stationed there, to re- 
pulse him on the edge of the breastwork, if, under 
cover of the bushes, he advanced to our intrench- 
ments. Those brave men supported all their hardships 
with resignation^ and even with alacrity. The safe- 
ty of tlie coqntry was at stake, and their desire to 
chastise insolent invaders, operated too strongly on 
hearts inflamed with patriotic ardour, to suffer them 
to perceive the uncomfortableness of their situation. 



ISO JUtTOIICAI. MEMOIft. 

Such conduct is so much superior to any ttilogy I 
couM bestow on it, that I must be content to admire 
it in sSence. 

In order to give a correct narrative of the aAur of 
the 8 A) I must previously make the reader acquaint- 
ed with the respective position of the different corps 
stationed at the lines; that he may perceive, that if a 
considerable part of the troops exhibited no active va- 
lour, it was owing to the attack's not being made on 
their position; for had it been general, there can be 
no doubt but all would have equally vied in ardour 
and bravery. 

The redoubt on the river, in front of the extre- 
mity of the line on the right, was guarded by a com- 
pany of the 7th regiment, commanded by lieutenant 
Ross. The artillery was served by a detachment of 
the 44th, under the command of lieutenant Marant. 
Within the line, at the extremity of the right, be- 
tween battery No, 1 and the river, was stationed the 
New Orleans volunteer company of riflemen, about 
thirty men strong.; ^ '- ' ^ 

The 7th regiment covered from that battery to 
battery No. 3, taking in the powder-magazine, built 
since the 1st of January, as also battery No. 2, com- 
manded by lieutenant Norris. This regiment, four 
hundred and thirty men strong, was commanded by 
major Peire. 

The interval between that battery and No. 4, com- 
manded by lieutenant Crawley, was occupied by ma- 
jor Plauchg's battalion of volunteer uniform compa- 
nies, and by major Lacoste's battalion of Louisiana 
men of colour. The former was two hundred and 



HxsretrcAi miiio». 151 

eighty *nine men strong, aiid die latter two hnndred 
and eighty* 

From battery No. 4, to colonel Perry's, No. 5, 
the line was defended by major Daquin's battalion of 
Str Domingo men of colour, one hnndred and fifty 
men strong, and from that out by the 44tb, two hun- 
dred and forty men strong, commanded by obtain 
Baker. AU the corps, Gcora die 7tfa regiment to 
the 44th mclusively, were under the command of 
colonel Ross. 

Two-thirds of the remaining length of the line, 
were guarded by the troops commanded by major* 
general CarrolL On the right of battery No. 7> com- 
manded by Meutenants Spctts and Chauveau,were ^a* 
tioned fifty marines, under the command of lieutenant 
Bellevue. 

On the preceding day, part of the Kentucky 
troops, under the command of general Adsdr, had 
gone to re-ef^arce that pait of the line. The order 
in which they were ranged may be seen on the plan. 
AU those troops formed a fiarce of about sixteen . 
hundred men.. * 

The troops under the command of general ColKea 
occupied die rest of the length of the line, as also that 
part which turned df towards the left into the wood; 
their number was about five hundred men. 

Captain Ogden's company of cavalry was station- 
ed behind head-quarters, and a detachment of the 
Attakapas dragoons was posted within the court-yard, 
together about fifty men strong. 

During the attack, captain Chauveau's company 
of horse volunteefs, about thirty men strong, hasted 



152 HISTORICAL MEMOI&. 

from town and drew up in the same court-yard, to be 
ready for a sortie, should it be thought expedient; . 

The Mississippi cavalry, commanded by major 
Hinds, one hundred and fifty men strong, was en- 
camped in the rear, on Delefy 's plantation. Our out- 
posts extended about five hundred yards in firont of 
the line. 

Different detachments, making an aggi^gate of 
two hundred and fifty men of colonel Young's regi- 
ment of Louisiana militia, were staticHied at conve^ 
nient intervals, on the skirts of the wood, behind the 
line, as far as the Pienias canal. \ 

Four hundred yards behind the line, a guard was 
posted on the road« to prevent any one's going out of 
camp;, and a line of sentinels extended from that post 
to the wood for the same purpose. 

Although the above details show the number of 
our troops to have amounted to about fi^ur thousand 
men, including. one hundred artillerists who did not 
belong to any corpse it is nevertheless true, that ge- 
nigral Jackson's Uiie was defended by only three thou- 
sand two hundred men, the remaining eight hundred 
having been distributed into various detachments, 
and posted behind to guard the camp, for the defence 
of the Piernas canal, and on the outskirts of the 
wood.— (See Atlas, phites Nos. 5 and 7.) 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 153 



BATTLE OF THE EIGHTH OF JANUARY, 

I HAVE mentioned above, that on the 6th we were 
informed that the enemy intended shortly to attack 
our lines; every thing, indeed, announced such a 'de- 
termination; but we were in doubt whether the attack 
on the left bank would be feigned or real, or whether 
the enemy would not direct his principal force against 
general Morgan on the right bank. But in the after- 
noon of the .7th it became evident that the enemy's 
design was to attack Jackson's lines and attempt to 
storm them. 

Though at so great a distance we could not dis- 
tinctly see what was passing in the enemy's camp, 
■we perceived that a great number of soldiers and 
sailors were at work, endeavouring to move some- 
thing very unwieldy, which we concluded to be artil- 
lery. With the assistance of a telescope in the up- 
per apartment of head-quarters, we perceived soldiers 
on Laronde's plantation, busy in making fascine^, 
while others were working on pieces of wood, which 
we concluded must be scaling ladders. The picket- 
guards n^ar the wood had moreover been increased 
and stationed nearer each other. Officers of the staff 
were seen riding about the fields of Laronde's, Bien- 
venu's and Chalmette's plantations, and stopping at 
the different posts to give orders. Finally, on the 
7th, shortly after night-fall, we distinctly heard men 
at work in the enemy's different batteries; the strokes 
of hammers gave "note of preparation," and re- 
sounded even within our lines; and our out-posts in- 

X 



154 HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 

formed us that the enemy was re-establishing his 
batteries: his guards were re^enforeed about sunset; 
probably with a view to cover the movements of the 
troops. In our camp all was composure; the officers 
were ordered to direct their subalterns to be ready 
on the first signal. Half the troops passed the night 
behind the breastwork, relieving each other occasion- 
ally. Every one waited for day with anxiety ahd 
impatience, but with calm intrepidity, expecting to 
be vigorously attacked, and knowing that the enemy 
had then from twelve to fifteen thousand bayonets to 
bring into action, besides two thousand sailors and 
some marines. 

A little before daybreak, our out-post came in 
without noise, having perceived the enemy moving 
forward in great force. 

;\ At last the dawn of day discovered to us the ene- 
my occupying two-thirds of the space between the 
wood and the Mississippi. Immediately a Congreve 
rocket went oflF from the skirt of the wood, in the di- 
rection of the river. This was the signal for the at- 
tack. At the same instant, the twelve-pounder of bat- 
tery No. 6, whose gunners had perceived the enemy's 
movement, discharged a shot. On this all his troops 
gave three cheers, formed in close column of about 
sixty men in front, in very good order, and advanced 
nearly in the direction of battery No. 7, the men 
shouldering their muskets, and all carrying fascines, 
and some with ladders. A cloud of rockets preceded 
them, and continued to fall in showers during the 
whole attack. Batteries Nos. 6, 7 and 8, now open- 
ed an incessant fire on the column, which continued 



HISTOEICAf. MEICOIE, 155 

to advance in pretty, good order, untU, in ft few »li- 
mutes, the musketry of the troops of Tennessee and 
Kentucky, joining their fire with that of the artillery, 
began to make an impression on it, which soon threw 
it into confusion. It was at that moment that was 
heard that constant rolling fire, whose tremendous 
noise resembled rattliifg peals of thunder. For some 
time the British officers succeeded in animating the 
courage of their troops, and making them advance, 
obliqueing to the left, to avoid the fire of battery No. 
7, frpm which every discharge opened the column, 
and mowed down whole files, which were almost in- 
stantaneously replaced by new troops coming up 
close after the first: but these also shared the same 
fate, until at last, after twenty^five minute ^ nnn tiyiyfll 
firing, through which a few platoons advanced to the 
edge of the ditch, the column entirely broke, and 
part of the troops dispersed, and ran to take shelter 
among the bushes on the right* The rest retired to 
the ditch where they had been when first perceived, 
four hundred yards from our lines. 

There the officers with some difficulty rallied 
their troops, and again drew them up for a second at- 
tack, the soldiers having laid down their knapsacks at 
the edge of the ditch, that they might be less incum- 
bered. 

And now, for the second time, the column, re- 
cruited with the troops that formed the rear, advan- 
ced. Again it was received with the same rolling 
fire of musketry and artillery, till, having advanced 
without much order very near our lines, it at last 
broke again^ and retired in the utmost confusion. In 



156 HISTOBICAL MEMOIR. 

vain <fid the officers now endeavour, as before, to re* 
vive the courage of their men; to no purpose did they 
strike them with the flat of their swords, to force 
them to advance: they were insensible to every thing 
but danger, and saw nothing but death which had 
struck so many of their comrades. 

The attack on our lines had hardly began, when 
the British commander-in-chief, the honourable sat 
£dward Packenham, fell a victim to his own intrepi- 
dity, while endeavouring to animate his troops with 
ardour for the assault. Soon after his fall, two other 
generals, Keane and Gibbs, were carried off the field 
of battle, dangerously wounded. A great number of 
officers of rank had fallen: the ground over which the 
column had marched, was strewed with the dead and 
the wounded. Such slaughter on their side, with no 
loss on ours, spread consternation through their ranks, 
as they were now convinced of the impossibility of car- 
rying our lines, and saw that even to advance was cer- 
tain death. In a word, notwithstanding the repeated 
efforts of some officers to make the troops form a 
third time, they would not advance, and all that could 
be obtained from them, was to draw them up in the 
ditch, where they passed the rest of the day. 

Some of the enemy's troops had advanced into 
the wood towards the extremity of our line, to make 
a &lse attack, or to ascertain whether a real one were 
practicable. These the troops under general Coffee 
no sooner perceived, than they opened on them a 
brisk fire with their rifles, which quickly made them 
retire. The greater part of those who, on the co- 
lumn's being repulsed, had taken shelter in the thick- 



HISTORICAL MSMOIll. 157 

ets, only escaped our batteries to be killed by our 
musketry. During the whole hour that the attack 
.lasted, our fire did not slacken for a single moment; 
and it seemed as though the artillery and musketry 
tied with each other in vivacity. 

When the column first advanced to the attack, 
die troops partly moved forward along the skirt of 
the wood, which in that part forms a curve, and were 
by that means covered till they came within two hun- 
dred yards of our lines. After the attack on our left 
had commenced, the enemy made a column advance 
on the right by the road, and between the river and 
the levee. This column precipitately pushing for- 
ward, drove in our out-posts, following them so close- 
ly that it came up to the unfinished redoubt before 
we could fire on it more than two discharges of our 
cannon. A part of the column leaped into the ditch, 
and got into the redoubt through the embrasures, and 
over the parapet, overpowermg with their numbers 
the few men they fpund there: others advancing along 
the brink of the river, killed the soldiers of the 7th, 
who bravely defended their post at the point of the 
bayofiet, against a number much superior, and conti-^ 
nually increasing. 

To get into the redoubt was not a very arduous 
achievement: the difficulty was to maintain possession 
of it, and clear the breastwork of the entrenchment in 
the rear of the re4oubt, which still remained to be 
attacked. Already several British officers, though 
wounded, were bravely advancing to encourage their 
men by t^ir example. 



158 HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 

Colonel Rchce, followed by two other oAcen of 
high rank, had begun to mount the breastwork, when 
the gallant volunteer riflenien under captain Beale, 
who defended die head of the line, made them all find 
their graves in that redoubt which they had mastered 
with so much gallantry. Meanwhile, captain Hum- 
phreys' battery No. 1, lieutenaut Norris's No. 2, 
and the 7th regiment, which was the only one within 
musket-shpt, kept up a tremendous fire on that co* 
lumn, which, like that on the left, was obliged to fall 
back in disorder, leaving the road, the lev6e, and the 
brink of the river, strewed witli its dead and wounded* 
The enemy had q>ened the fire of the battery 
which he erected on the road on the 28th of Decem- 
ber, as also of that erected on the 1st of January, be* 
hind the demolished buildings )of Chalmette's planta- 
tion. The fire was at first wryiwiik, and was prin- 
cipally directed ag^st Macarty's house, in hopes 
that the general and his staff might still be there: but 
to the enemy's disappointment, the general and all the 
officers had repaired to their post on the lines, long 
before daybreak. The only mischief done by that, 
prodigious expense of bails and shells, was that ma- 
jor Chotard, assistant adjutant-general, received a 
contusion in his shoulder, and four or five pillars of 
the house were knocked down. Our batteries, Nos. 
^ 3, and 4, principally directed their fire against 
ihose of the enemy, and dismounted several of the 
guns erected near Chalmette's buildings. Battery 
No. 1, after having poured a shower of grape-shot 
on the enemy's troops as they retreated, turned its 
fire against his battery which was opposite to it, and 



HlflTOmiCAL ICXMOIH. iS9 

in less than two hours, forced the men to evacuate 
it. The marine battery on the right bank also fired 
on the enemy's column as it advanced alimg the briiik 
of the river, until the tro<^ which landed on the right 
baiik, pushed forward, and obliged the seamen who 
served it to attend to their own defence. 

By half after eight in the morning, the fire of the 
musketry had ceased. The whde plain on the left, 
as also the side of the river, from the road to the edge 
bf the water, was covered with the British soldiers who 
had fallen. About four hundred wounded prisoners 
were taken, and at least double that number of wound- 
ed men escaped into the British camp; and, what 
might perhaps appear incredible, were there not ma* 
ny thousands ready to attest the fact, is that a space of 
ground, extending from the ditch of our lines to that 
on which the enemy drew up his troops, two hundred 
and fifty yards in length, by about two hundred in 
breadth, was literally covered with men, either dead 
or severely wounded. About forty men were killed 
in the ditch, up to wluch they had advanced, and about 
the same number were there made prisoners. JXbe 
artiUery of our lines kept up a fire against the ene* 
my's batteries and troops until two o'clock in the 
afternoon. J^ the disposition of his troops, the ene- 
my appeared to apprehend lest we should make a sor- 
tie, and attack him in his camp. The soldiers were 
drawn up in the ditches, in several parallel lines, and 
all those who had been slightly wounded, as soon as 
their wounds were dressed, were sent to join their 
corps, to make their number of efiective men appear 
the greater, and shpw a firm countenance. The ene- 



160 HISTORICAt MEMOIR. 

my^s loss <xi the left bank, in the affiiir of the 8th of 
January, was iminenset consideriog the short duration 
of the contest, the ground, and the respective num- 
ber of the contending forces. According to the most 
pi^bable accounts, it cannot have amounted to less 
than three thousand men in killed, wounded, andpri- 
soners. The number of officers who fell that day is 
a much greater loss in proportion, owing to the ne* 
cessity they were under of exposing themselves in 
the brunt of the battle, to encourage the men, and ' 
lead them on to the desperate assault Our loss was 
comparatively inconsiderable, amounting to no more 
than thirteen in killed and wounded, on the left bank 
of the MississiroLi 

I deem it my indispensable duty to do justice to 
the intrepid bravery displayed in that attack by the 
British troops, especially by the officers. If any thing 
was wanting towards the attack's being conducted 
with judgment (speaking in a general and military 
point of view) it was, in my opinion, that they did 
not in the onset sacrifice the regularity of their move- 
ments to promptitude and celerity. The column 
marched on with the ordinary steji, animating their 
courage with huzzas, instead of pushing on with fix- 
ed bayonets, au pas de charge. But it is well known 
that agility is not the distinctive quality of British 
troops. Their movement is in general sluggish and 
difficult, steady, but too precise, or at least more 
suitable for a pitched battle, or behind intrenchments, 
than for an assault The British soldiers showed, on 
this occasion, that it is not without reason they are 
said to be deficient in agility. The enormous load 



alSTtelCAL MEMOIR* 161 

they had to cirrj contributed indeed net a Htde to 
the difficultj of their movement. Besides tfieir knap- 
sacks, usually weighing neaiiy thirty potinds^ and 
their musket, too heavy by at least one third, almost 
all of them had to carry a fascine from nine to ten 
inches in diameter ^ and four feet long, made of sugar- 
canes perfecdy tipe, and consequeiMy vety heavy j at 
a ladder from ten to twelve feet long. 

.The duty of impartiality, incumbent on him who 
relates military events, obliges me to observe that the 
attack made on Jackson's lines, by the British, on the 
8th of January, must have been determined on by 
their generals, without any consideration of the 
ground, the weather, or the difficulties to be sur- 
mounted, before they covdd storm lines, defended by 
militia indeed, but by militia whose valour they had 
already witnessed, with soldiers bending under the 
weight of their load, when a man, unincumbered and 
unexposed, would that day have found it difficult to 
mount our breastwork at leisure and with circumspec- 
tion, so extremely slippery was the soil. Yet those 
officers had had tin^e and abundant opportunity to 
observe the ground cm which the troops were to act. 
I^ce their arrival on the hanks of the Mississippi^ 
they had sufficiently seen the effects of rainy weather 
to form a just idea of the difficulty their troops must 
have experienced, in climbing up ourintrenchments, 
even had the column been suffered to advance, with- 
out opposition, as far as the ditch. But they were 
blinded by their pride. The vain presumption of 
their superiority, and tlieir belief that the raw militia 
of Kentucky and Tennessee, who now for the fii$t 



1A2 uitrt^icAt iiBirom. 

time had issued from t&dnr fieUby coald not stand be- 
fiorc the vcty aght o£saMnneroa&a body oC regular 
tpoeps advancing to attack tfacm^ made tfaem disre- 
ggid the admoBition of aobei' reason. Had they at att 
calculated ion the pcfisibility of resistEiace^ they ivould 
have adqi^ied a (tiSexent plan of attadc, which, how- 
ever^ I am far from thinking would have been ulti^ 
mately successfuL ^r 

It has been re peate d tlvri: divisbn prevailed in a 
council of war, and that admiral Cochraiie, combat- 
iag the opinion of general Paekenham, who, with 
more judgment, was for making the main attack on 
the right bank, boasted that he would undertake to 
storm our lines with two thousand sailors, armed on- 
ly with swords and pistols. 6l know not how &r this 
report may deserve credit, but if the British com- 
mander-in-chief was so unmindful of what he owei 
Jns country, who had committed to his prudence the 
Uvea and honours of seveml thousands of her soldiers, 
as to yield to the ill-judged and rash advice of the 
admiral, his memory will be loaded with the heavy 
charge of having sacrificed reason in a moment of ir- 
ritation, though he atoned with his life for having 
acted contrary to his own judgment. 

I Tim to return to the attack on our lines. I can- 
not forbear to mention a fact which fully proves the 
truth of my assertion in the beginning of thb narra- 
tive, thaf the British had come to America to carry 
01^ war in the spirit of atrocity, determined to employ 
all means whatever to shed American blood, and glut 
th^ir rage against us. 



As soon as die ivircks of the British cohimn had 
disappeared, die fire of onr musketry ceased, and cor 
artillery oiily fired at intervals at the enemy's batte- 
ries, or at scattered platoonstiiat were perceived m 
Ae wood. At this time, men from all our difcr^it 
corps, prMipted merely by sentimeoits of humanity^ 
went^ of their own accord, to assist the wounded 
British^ to give them drink, and carry them (as tfaey 
did several on tlicir backs) within our lines. Ail 
our troops unanimously applauded die humane senti- 
ments of tixoac brave men, whose dauntless hearts 
were grieved to behold the slaughter of the day, and 
kk their wounded enemy saw but thw suffering fel- 
low creature. 

But, with harror I record the atrocity! whik they 
wera in the very act tff administering consolation^— 
while they were carrying the wounded Briti^ — the 
troops that were in the ditch (in front of our lines) 
fired on them, and killed and wounded some men« 
Yet the others, regardless of the danger to which they 
exposed then(iselves, persevered in their laudable 
purpose. This instance of baseness may have pro« 
cecded from individuals; nor can it be presumed that 
the men were ordered to fire by any officer of rank* 
The known tenor of general Lambert's honourable 
and soldierly conduct, sets the commander-in-chief 
far above the suspicion of his being capable of such 
atrocity. But the officers who commanded the troops 
in the ditch, within musket-shot of the men fired on, 
cannot allege that they misconceived the intention of 
our men, most of them being unarmed, and assistbg' 
the wounded. They were near enough to see their 



164 llI8TOmiCAL XByOIH. 

actions^ and seeing these, they could not poseibljr mis- 
conceive their motives. Upon a full view of tlus 
fact then, whatever reluctance we may {eel, in brand- 
ing with in&my military men whose actions should, 
ever be directed by honour — ^men, amongst whom 
there were perhaps several who wore die honourable 
decorations of valour and good conduct, we cwnst 
forbear to give them the. appellation of barbmans* 
The private soldiers cannot be reproached whh tlus 
atrocious act; the guilt of it rests solely with those 
who commanded them.-^(See note No. 2, at the end 

o^the volume. )_ ^^ 

** iOteiFhaving perused, with pleasing sensations, tbe 
recital of the brilliant defence nuule by our troops on 
the left hank, every American, whose bosom glows 
with the love of his country, must team widi pain the 
contrast exhibited in what took place on the right, the 
consequences of which were likely to have been so 
disastrous, that even now my mind shudders at the 
recollection of that moment, when, seeing our troops 
on the right hank fall back in disorder, while the ene- 
my was rapidly advancing towards the city, all of us 
who were^ at Jackson's lines, were suddenly hurried 
from the transporting joy of victory to the fear of 
shortly seeing all its advantages wrested from our 
grasp. 

As the a&ir to which the course of my narrative 
has now brought me, is the only disaster we expe- 
rienced du Ang the campaign, the only fault commit- 
ted on our defensive operations, I must request the 
indulgent attention of the reader, while I lay before 
him a minute, and perhaps irksome, detail of circum- 



KISTORICAJ. MEMOIR. 165 

Stances necessary to be known, in order that he may 
become perfectly acquainted with the causes of that 
unfortunate event. 

At the period when the quota of Louisiana was 
levied, brigadier-general David Morgan, of the mi- 
litia, was appointed to command it. We have seen 
tbat after the affair of the 23d of December, he was 
ordered to leave the cantonment at the English Turn, 
on the left bank, and cross the river to encamp on 
the right bank opposite Jackson's lines. (See plate 
No. 5.) Agreeably to those orders, he made his 
troops take post near the saw-mill, on Flood^s plan- 
tation. A few days after, those troops moved for- 
ward to Jourdan's plantation, next to that of Flood's, 
where they remained till the 7th of January, on which 
day they took a position along Raguet's old canal, 
near the lower boundary of the plantation. At this 
time the contingent ^amounted to no more than two 
hundred and sixty effective men. 

We have already seen that in the morning of the , 
4th the second regiment of Louisiana militia, colonel 
Zenon Cavelier had crossed over to th^ right bank, 
and encamped on Cazelard's plantation. On the Tdi, 
that regiment also took a position on Raguet'^ canal, 
on the left of the quota; its effective force being then 
only one hundred and seventy-six men armed. 

The first regiment of militia, under colonel De- 
jean, quitted, in the evening of the 6th, the positioi^ 
it occupied on the Piemas canal, and that same day 
took a station on the left of the 2d regiment, and 
formed the extremity of the line on the bank of the 
river. To this regiment was annexed a detachmeat 



IM HX6TORICAJL ICEJIQIA* 

q{ the 6th Louisiana militia, farmbg together a ibrce 
«f one hundred and ten men, some iU armed,, the rest 
widiout any arms. 

General Morgan took the command of those 
troops, which, as I have already observed, he station^ 
ed along Raguet's old canal, where he had com- 
menced lines of defence two hundred yards in lengt|i« 
which was but a very small portion of the witole 
length of the canal, this extending about two d^ou- 
sand yards to the wood. Thus all that part on the 
right of the space of two hundred yards, where a 
breastwork had been begun, was without any other 
defence than a ditch, and exposed to be turned; thisi 
we shall see, is what actually happened. 

Towards the beginning of January, whik I was 
carrying on wwks at the line on Boisgervais' canals 
general Jackson ordered me to a8si9t general Mor- 
gan in choosing an advanced posijtion, opposite Jack- 
son's lines, for the purpose of establishing lines of 
defence, suitable to the number of troops on the right 
bank, and to the nature of the situation; and, on the 
choice being made, to draw a plan of the works, and 
immediately employ in their execution all the negroes 
that had till then been working at the battery, near 
the powder-magazine, and at Boisgervais' line, which 
then became a second line. 

Agreeably to these orders I waited on general 
Morgan, whom I met accompanied by his staff, and by 
commodore Patterson, inspecting all the canals in the 
vicinity. I communicated to him m% orders, observ- 
ing that I was at his disposal. The general continued 
his inspection, and returned to his quarters, without 



HISTORICAJL MEMOIR. 167 

having come to any determination, only that he appear- 
ed inclined to make choice of the position of the canal 
of Raguet; he then desired I would inspect the differ- 
ent situations myself, and make my report to him. My 
orders directed me to assist general Morgan, and my 
opinion u-as of course entirely subordinate to his de- 
cision. I beg the reader to excuse my appearing 
here in a conspicuous light, and to believe that it is 
with much reluctance I am forced to speak of myself, 
in investigating the cause of a disastrous event; my 
purpose being to show, by the simple recital of facts, 
that the disaster might perhaps have been avoided, 
had another point for defence been adopted. 

I chose for the intended lines of defence, an inter- 
mediate position, nearly at equal distance from Ra- 
guet's and Jourdan's canals, in a place whefe the 
wood inclines towards the river, leaving only a space 
of about nine hundred yards of open ground. The 
adjoining wood being impassable, works occupying 
this whole space could not be turned. A rough 
draught, conformable to the plan in plate No. 5, un- 
der the title of intended linCy was made, and immedi- 
ately the overseer of the works set his men toexecute 
this line. Having gone over to the left bank, I made 
my report to the commander-in-chief, who approved 
of the dispositions made, and was sensible of the ad- 
vantage of the position that had been chosen. That it 
was a good position, may be seen on a view of the 
map. The small distance between the wood and the 
river, required but from a thousand to twelve hun- 
dred mtn to guard it, and half that number would 
hAve been sufficient, had pieces of cannon been 



168 HISTORICAL M£MOIR. 

mounted in the intended outworks. To attack that 
line, the enemy must have advanced in the open 
plain, which was commanded in every directicm by 
the salient parts of the intrenchments. The wood, as 
I have before observed, was impassable towards the 
extremity of that line; the enemy's batteries on the 
left bank could not have infiladed its rear, as was the 
case with that established on Raguet's canal. The 
former, in short, united all advantages, and I dare 
affirm that, had the works been completed, the Bri- 
tish WQuld not have ventured to advance within can- 
non-shot. That line, defended only by the troops 
that were on the right bank, on the 8th amounting to 
about eight hundred men, might have defied the at- 
tempts of the British, had they come with three or 
four times the number that crossed the river, and 
might have ^ven them a reception similar to that 
which they experienced on the left bank. But these 
dispositions had been changed, and the negroes or- 
dered to be set to work on Raguet's canal. 

This line, also marked in the Map, plate No. 5, 
had a kind of bastion on the bank of die river, and a 
small redan at some distance on the right. In the 
afternoon of the 7th, general Morgan caused one 
twelve-pounder and two six-pounders to be mounted 
on the line. 

I have already observed, that on the 6th it was 
suspected that the enemy intended to cross over to 
the right hank; in the afternoon of the 7th, there no 
longer remained any doubt of this intention. A lit- 
tle after sunset general Morgan was informed that 
the enemy was ready to cross the river, and that he 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 169 ^ 

might hourly expect to be attacked. On the 8tb, 
before break of day, he received information of the 
landing of the ehemy on the strand of Andry's plan- 
tation. Three miles in advance of the luie, on Mo- 
rin*s estate, half a mile above the spot where the 
enemy landed^ a detachment of one hundred men of 
the 6th of imlitia, under the command of major Ar- 
naud,had been stationed, to oppose his landing. These 
men were very ill armed, most of them having only 
fowling-pieces, and musket-cartridges too large for 
them; several of them were even without any arms, 
and not one of them, I believe, excepting their com- 
mander, had ever been opposed to an enemy before. 
It is litde strange, then, that they retreated. The 
enemy landed much lower than was his intention, ha- , 
ving been carried down by the strength of the current. . 
It was owing to this circumstance, that the attack on 
the right bank, which was to have been simultaneous 
with that on the left, did not commence until the lat- 
ter had completely failed, and our musketry, having 
routed the enemy, had ceased firing. Having landed 
his troops, the enemy ascended the river in his boats, 
carrying carronades and cannon, and keeping close to 
the bank, covered the flank of his troops, and dis- 
qharged grape-shot against ours, who retired as he 
advanced. 

In the eveninj} of the 7tb, general Jackson had 
ordered general Adair, on whom, in consequence of 
the sickness of general Thomas, had devolved the 
ijhief cpmmand of tlie Kentucky militia, to send a 
detachment of five hundred men, to re-enforce gene- 
ral Morgan's camp. The command of this re-en- 



170 UISTOaXCAL MEMOIB. 

forcement was given to colonel Davis, and after mudi 
fatigue and difficulty in crossing the river, the detach- 
ment arrived, harassed and exhausted, at four o'clock 
in the morning, on Morgan's line, and there received 
orders to advance, to meet and repulse the enemy. 
What was the exact number of men under colonel 
Davis, has been a question of much contest It ap- 
pears pretty certain that, on leaving the camp of Pre* 
vost's plantation, he had five hundred men; that only 
one-fourth part of these had arms, mostly in an ill 
condition, and that about seventy of them received 
arms at the naval arsenal; that colonel Davis had not 
above two hundred and fifty armed men with him, 
when he arrived at Morgan's line, the rest having re* 
mained behind, spent with fatigue, and faint fbr wam 
of food, having taken hardly any nourishment since 
the morning, of the 7th. They had marched five 
miles, from the ferry near the powder magazine to 
the line, in bad roads, sometimes knee*d6ep in mud. 
It appears also that their arms were in an ill condition, 
their ammunition bad, and several of their muskets 
without flints, some having nothing but pebbles in 
their stead. What could be expected from men thus 
dispirited, ill armed and exhausted with inanition and 
fatigue? 

Colonel Davis took his station on Mayhew's 
canal, about a mile in advance of Morgan's 
line, his left resting on the river bank. On the 
right of his detachment was stationed that of major 
Amaud, consisting, as I have already observed, cf 
one hundred men, of whom fifteen were without 
arms, and the others were armed with fowling-pieces. 



UISTOXXCAL HfiMOIft. , 171 

The enemy arrived in considerable force, and attaiskv 
ed that ^position with the troops that had landed, 
while, his boats fired grape-shot at our flank. Cdonel 
Davis made his troops fire two or three volleys, not 
wilhout eflfect; but finding it impossible to maintain 
his ground any Icmger, as the enemy had already out- 
flanked him on the right, seeing himself abandoned 
by the detachment of major Arnaud, which, in spite 
of all the major's efforts to rally it, had taken to the 
wood, he determined to make his retreat on Morgan's 
lines, where he took a position on the right, along the 
eanal, beyond the part that was fortified. It is to be 
observed, that owing to some cause to me unknown, 
there was a ^Mce unoccupied between the right of 
cofenel Declouet, commanding the detachment of 
drafted militia, and colonel Davis's left. The troops 
under the latter's command, occupied a considerable 
front, the men were placed several feet from each 
other; and finally, on the same canal, but two hun- 
dred yards further to the right. Was stationed lieute* 
nant-colonel Caldwe ll, also of the drafted militia, with 
a detachment of sixteen men. The disposition of 
the troops on these lines, when colonel Davis took 
his station there, was therefore as follows: The firs^ 
regiment of militia, on the river; on its right the se* 
cond regiment; on the right of this last, the drafted 
militia of Louisiana. These corps crccupied the 
whole length of the fortified line. Next to this was 
a space unguarded, extending to the left of colonel 
Davis, whose command occupied on the canal three 
hundred yards in front; and finally two hundred yards 
from his right was stationed colonel Caldwell with 



172 HISTORICAL MEMOIE. 

sixteen men; the whole formipg a total of about six 
hundred men, one-third of whom, as before observed, 
were ill armed. There were mounted on those lines 
three pieces of cannon, one a* twelve-pounder, com- 
manded by midshipman Philibert, and two six- 
pounders, the one commanded by Mr. Batique, for- 
merly a captain of a vessel, the other by Mr. Hos- 
mer, both these gentlemen belonging to the first re- 
giment of militia. 

The enemy advancing rapidly by the rofitd oppo- 
j&ite the left of the line, the artillery played on him 
with effect, and as soon as he approached near 
enough, the musketry also began to fire; which ha- 
ving obliged him to fall back, he next directed iiis 
attack against our right, one column moving towards 
the wood, and the other towards the centre of the line. 
It was now that was felt the effect of the bad por- 
tion that we occupied. One of the enemy's columns 
turned our troops, at the extremity of colonel Davis's 
detachment, while the other penetrated into the un- 
guarded space between that detachment and the 
drafted militia. On this, the Kentucky militia ^ve 
way, nor was it possible from that moment to rally 
theift, though their officers and general Morgan made 
every exertion for that purpose. Confidence had 
vanished, and with it all spirit of resistance. If, in- 
stead of extending over so considerable a space, those 
troops had been formed in close column^ the confu- 
sion that took place might easily have been avoided; 
and in case of a retreat's becoming necessary, it 
nxight have been made in good order, our troops 
still keeping up their fire. * 



' HISTORICAL MEMOIA. 173 

The enemy having turned our right, pushed on 
towards our left^ which continued firing as long as 
possible; and at last the cannon was spiked, just as 
the enemy arrived on the bank of the canal. 

Commodore Patterson, who, from break of day 
had, without intermission, kept up a fire from the 
guns of the marine battery, on the enemy's troops 
advancing up the road, washed now to turn his can- 
non, in order to fire on those who had forced the 
right of the line; but the Kentucky troops and the 
drafted militia, masked the guns, and it was im- 
possible to fire without killing our own men. Seeii^ 
this, the commodore, enraged, I dare say, determined 
to %)ike his cannon, throw the ammunition into the 
river, and go on board the Louisiana. 

.. The first and second regiments retreated by the 
rpad, and went to take a position on Boisgervais' line, 
where a considerable number of the flying troops ral- 
lied. Jourdan's mill and bridge, and successively 
^hose pf Flood and Ca^elard were set on fire, 

A small detachment of th? enemy advanced as far 
as the bridge of Cazelard's canal, and retired before 
evening; and in the cpurse of the night all the ene- 
my's troops recrqssed to the left bank. 

Let us now take a retrospective view of this afiair, 
and let us examine the respective conduct of the corps 
of troops which defended the right bank. The task 
is painful indeed, but indispensable; for justice re- 
quires that it should be ascertained on which side lies 
the misconduct, that it may not be wrongfully im- 
puted. 



174 HISTORICAL MEMOIft. 

The principal charges brought againct the Ken- 
tuckimis are, that they fled before die enemy, when 
they ought to have waited for him at the -point of the 
bayonet; that they retreated in disorder, instead of 
keeping up their fire as they retired. To theae 
charges they answer, " We were very ill armed; we 
had been on our feet for twenty-four hours, durii^ 
which time we had hardly tasted food; the cartridges 
we had were too large for our pieces; on our arrival 
before day, after a hard march of several leagues partly 
through the mud, without being allowed a moment's 
rest, we were. ordered to advance a mile furthen 
having obeyed without a murmur, we found our* 
selves within view of the enemy, on whom we fired 
several volleys, maintaining that position, which was 
none of the best, until being outflanked on our right, 
and canncnaded with grape-shot from the barges 
on our left, we were forced to retreat on Morgan's 
line, where we^ were ordered to take a position 
along a canal, uncovered and extended on a front of 
three hundred yards, our left separated from the other 
troops by an unguarded space of ground, and our 
right covered by a paltry detachment of sixteen men, 
stationed two* hundred yards from us; a vast plain, 
affording no manner of shelter, lying in our rear. We 
were turned on the right, and cut off on the left. In 
so precarious a situation, how could we avoid giving 
way?'* To this it may be answered, that the Ken- 
tuckians might have retreated without flying in dis- 
order. While I acknowledge that observation to be 
just, I believe that veteran troops of the line, in a less 
perilous situation, have not unfrequently been seized 



HISTOIICAL MIKOIB. 175 

with a panic, and given way; nor do I tlunk that any 
military man of much experience will be surprised 
^t militia troops, ill armed^ drawn up, like Indiana, 
on an immense front, seeing themselves turned and 
cut off by troops of the line, quitted their post, and 
retired in disorder. 

What took place on the right bank, had made so 
much sensation in the immediate seat of war, and had 
been so variously reported abroad; to the disparage- 
ment of many brave men, that I thought it a duty 
ihcumbent on me to inquire into particulars, and trace 
the ^ct to its cause. I have stated facts from the 
best information. I have made observations and 
drawn inference*. The deci^cm is left to the judg- 
mmt of the reader. 

The result of the attack made by tl^ enemy on 
the right bank, was» on his part, the loss of one hun- 
dred and twenty men killed or wounded, and on ours 
that of one man killed and five wounded. — (See in 
Appendix general Jnckspa's ad comimodore Patter- 
son's letters, No. 29.) 

The commander-in-chief having received intelli- 
gence of the retreat of the troops oo the right bank, 
ordered general Humbert, who had tendered his ser- 
vioes as a volunteer, to cross over with a re-enforce- 
ment of four hundred men, take die command of the 
troops, and repulse the enemy, cost what it might* 
Tliis general arriving on the ground, rommunicated 
to general Moi^gan the order he had received, which 
was only verbal, owing to the urgency of the occasion. 
The latter appeared inclined to furmsh general Hum- 
bert with the means of justifying the confidence with 



176 HISTORICAt MEMOIR. 

which general^Jackson had honoured him; but there 
arose disputes concerning' military precedence. Other 
militia officers did not think it right that a French 
general, enjoying the confidence of a large proportion 
of the troops; known by a reputation which he had 
acquired, not on parade^ or at reviews, but by his 
sword; holding a rank which he owed, not to the 
commission of a state governor and legislative as- 
sembly, but to which he had been raised, step by 
step, through all the inferior grades, and after having 
fought in a number of batdes — ^those officers, I say, 
did not think it becoming, that the general to whom 
the French government had formerly confided the 
command of that .expedition to Ireland, which wiB 
ever be recorded in the glorious pages of histoiy, 
should be sent to remedy the faults of others, and 
repulse invaders, who, perhaps, would not, with im- 
punity, have landed on that bank, had he there com- 
manded. Happily, during this discussion, the ene- 
my, as I have observed, thought it prudent to retreat, 
which they did that night and next morning. General 
Jackson made an address to the troops on the right 
bank, on the subject of the retreat they had made be- 
fore the enemy. That document, breathing the most 
noble sentiments of patriotism and military ardor, 
cannot fail to be read witli pleasure. (See Appendix, 
No. 30.) 

In the course of the afternoon^ the enemy sent a 
flag of truce, proposing a suspension of arms, for the 
purpose of burying the dead. General Jackson would 
grant a suspension for no longer than two hours, and 
only for the left bank; military operations being to- 



HISTOBICAL ICJSllOia. 177 

continvte on the right bank as usual, ^*k^ of truce 
were reciprocally passing unjtii n^r four in the after-- 
noon. At that hour, oup batteries again began to 
c^Donade those of the enemy, and our heavy artille- 
ry fired on the buildings of Laronde's and Bienvenu's 
plantations, where some groups of soldiers were 
seen. From one of the deserters who came over in- 
the evening of the fith we learned, that. the enemy's 
loss amounted to three thousand men, and that the 
commander-in-chief was killed, and generals Gibbs 
and Keane wounded. General Lambert, on whom 
the command had devolved, was lately arrived, and 
Was unknown to this deserter, who could not tell who 
commanded the British ai^/^ 

* In the evening of the 8th of ianuar>% the wounded pri- 
soners were conveyed to New Orleans, and lodged in the bar- 
racks. The hospitals of the city being occupied by our sick 
and the few wounded amongst ujs, accommodatioiis had not been 
prepared for 90 great a number of those of the enemy* Captam 
Dubuys, coaunander of all the vtteran corps and of the city at 
that period, represented to the citizens the wants of those unfor«* 
tunate victims of British ambition, and immediately one hundred 
and forty matreased, a great number of pillows, with a large 
quantity of lint s^d old linen foi* dte^sihg theif wounds, were 
procured by contributions from all quarters, at a moment whea 
such articles were extremely scarce in New Orleans^ where not 
a truss of straw could. be purchased. 

Until the hospital directors Could establish an hospital for 
those wounded men, whose number amounted to nearly four 
hundred, all kinds of refreshments and every attendance that 
their situation required, were liberally provided for them by a 
number of cititens* Several women of colour offered their 
services, and were employed in tending them, witliout any cofnT- 
pensfrtlon but the pleasure of relieving ^fTfring humanity. 

A a 



n/ 



17a aisv^ktcAL ilittoii. 

On the 9t]p, by bttak of cbyi the ardUery agata 
began to fire at infervalfii wlueh gready annoyed tk6 
enemy, who about ten o'^ock sent out another fiag 
of truee. The letter addressed to general Jaokaon, 
signed ** Lamberty*^ but without mentioning that he 
who bore that name was now commander4n*chief of 
the British forces; an avowal which he wished to 
avoid 9 to conceal from us, as long as possible, the 
death of general Packenham, of which we were in- 
formed on the evening of the 8th* General Jackson 
replied, that he was ready to treat widi the comman* 
der-in-chief of the British army, and diat it Was to 
him matter of surprise that the letter he had received 
was not direcdy from him. On this, general Lam- 
bert could not decline answering that he was com- 
mander-in-chief; and then general Jackson granted 
the suspension of arms required. The bodies of all 
the British who had died on our side, were delivered 
to the enemy, . on the advanced line of our posts and 
his; they were received by British officers and buried. 
On beholding the remains of the three officers killed 
on the redoubt, and particularly those of colonel Re- 
nee^ the British soldiers could not forbear to manifest 
strong emotions of admiration and grief, paying the 
tribute of their tears to the brave man whom they 
perhaps had often followed in the road to g^ory, to a 
father (for so they called him) who probably had of- 
ten relieved their wants. He must have been an offi- 
cer of no common merit, whose death excited such 
regretl If he did not live long enough to acquire 
great renown in arms, if the thread of his life was se- 
vered before he had time to run a glorious career, at 



HI8T0ftICAL MKMOIR* 179 

least all of him is not inclosed in the tomb; his mc« 
mory survives in the grateful hearts of those who ex* 
p«*ienced his benevolence. 

On the 10th and 11th nothing occurred worthy 
of remark. • Our troops on the right bank re-occu-* 
pned their former position on Jourdan's pkmtation, 
where the engineer LafcMi commenced a Ime of de* 
fenoe» which may be seen on the map, plate No. 5i 
In the night of the lldi there was heard the report 
of a very brisk cannonade, which was thought to 
come from fort St. Philq) at Plaquemine, and the 
next evening we learned that the enemy was bom« 
barding.that fort. Our artillery continued to annoy 
the enemy to such a degree, that die deserters report* 
ed that the troops had no rest, and that all die out-post^ 
had been doubled, as an attack was apprehended. 
On the 12th^ fifty prisoners were brought in from 
Chef. Menteur. We every day continued to cannon* 
ade the enemy; the balls of bur heavy pieces, as also 
of our shells, fell in his very can^, and greatly an- 
noyed the men. 

Several officers on our lines, who had long f<>l- 
lowed die military profession, perceived on the 15di 
some movements in the enemy's camp, which they 
thpoght indicated a retreat, and about the same time 
a deserter assured us that a retreat would shcMtly take 
{rface. 

On iht 17th of January, in consequence of pro- 
posals made by general Lambert to general Jackson, 
die latter appointed his aid-de-camp, colonel Edward 
Livingston, to coAer with major Smith, military se- 
cretary to geneial Lambert, between the lines of the 



180 HISTORICAL MEMOIR* 

out^pposts, for the purpose of drawing up a cartel of 
prisoners; and these officers concluded upon one 
which was mutually approved of by the commander- 
in-chief of each army. (See that document. Appen- 
dix, No, 31.) 

Next day, towards noon, conformably to the arti- 
cles of the cartel, the enemy delivered to us, on the line, 
sixty-three of our prisoners; the greater part of whom 
had be€;n taken in the afiair of the 23d of December. 
A guard of honour, composed of a detachment of the 
company of carabineers, of Plauch6's battalion, com- 
manded by captain Roche, with a detachment of cap- 
tain fiesde's riflemen, preceded by the music of the 
battalion, went to receive and escort them into camp. 
Several of them were not yet out of danger from 
their wounds. Then- return to their friends and ac- 
quaintances was the more grateful to all, as, until that 
moment, it was feared that many of them were among 
the dead. 



It recurred to Dr. R. Morrell and Mr. S. Shields, 
on thepr return from the British fl^et, that a few well- 
armed boats could annoy the enemy on Lake Borgne, 
This suggestion was made to commodore Patterson 
on the morning of the 15th January, the period of 
their arrival in town. The commodore, after various 
inquiries concerning the description and force of the 
boats employed by the enemy on the lake, authorized 
those gei^tlemeato obtaiq volunteers for the e:i(pedi- 
tion.* Qti the 19th they proceeded from the bayou 

• I preserve in this narrative the fornvand nearly the words 
of the journal conuBunicated to me by Dr. Morrell. 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR^ 181 

St. John in four boats (one of which carried a twelve 
pound carronade, the others being small) and thirty* 
four men, oflBcers included. Kext morning they 
were joined at Fort Petites Coquilles by two small 
boats and nineteen men from captain Newman*8 
command* This day they remained at the fort 
to fit masts and sails to the boats, and to dis- 
tribute the men among the boats so as to give 
to each a few sailors; for it must be recollected 
the greater part 6f their number were soldieft 
and along-shore men. On the morning of the 
20th they proceeded to pass Chef-Menteur, and ar- 
rived at the militia camp, situate about three miles 
from lake Borgn^, at 2 P. M. Here they recon- 
noitred the enemy's boats, passing and re-passing 
from their army to their fleet. At 9 P. M. they got 
under weigh with mui&ed oars: at 10 were in the 
lake, and took a course along the land towards the 
Rigolets. At about 11 P. M. a large boat was dis- 
covered at anchor; immediately all hands pulled up 
to her as fast as possible. She was boarded on the 
boWj stem and centre nearly at the same moment. 
She surrendered after very little resistance; and had 
on board thirty-eight dragoons, a lieutenant and cor- 
net, and a master's mate and thirteen seamen. All 
returned to the encampment, where the prisoners 
were delivered to captain Collins, commanding offi- 
cer. At 1 A. M. another sortie was made, and row- 
ed about the lake till nearly day-light, but nothing 
could be found — 21st, laid by. 22d, at 4 A. M. 
went out again, and steered towards the Rigolets: at 
7 A^ M. they captured a transport boat; at half past 



182 HISTORICAL XEIfOIK. 

8 captured a transport schooner of one hundred and 
ten tons, bound to the armyi havbg only a few casks 
of rum on board, shaping her course for the Rigo- 
lets; soon after captured two.Ianches- Before 10 
A. M. captured three more boats; and at 11 reach- 
ed the mouth of the Rigoleta with some of the 
small boats* When unfortunately Mr. Shields wa^ 
obliged to set fire to the schooner, then about two 
miles off the Rigolets, the bar of whieh would ,not 
permit her to pass. The wind came out stro^ 
against us, the tide was also running out rapidly-*** 
and in truth boats from the schooner had hardly 
reached the shore, when we perceived boats sftand*^ 
kig towards her from all.directions* The smoke and 
blaze was very great. Our situation was now very 
alarming, having sixty-three prisoners and six prize* 
boats to guard, with a small force consbting of ft^» 
three men, inclusive, and this unhappily divided^ 
foir the wind and tide were so strong, that the largest 
boat, carrying the only piece of ordnance, was^rely 
able to make the eastern shore of the Rigolets, wh$re>^ 
aa the others, as well as all the prizes except one^ 
were on the western shore. The British boats, aft^ 
vainly attempting to board the burning schooner, ap- 
proached the shore, to ascertain the character of our 
men. When they discovered them to be Americant^ 
they sent three boats laden with troops, on their way 
from the army to the fleet, to land about a mule and 
a half above them. 'A party of tw.eDty men, led by 
Dr. Morrell, marciied to ^eet them, and concealed 
themselves in the high grass, near where the first boat 
landed^p As soon as the enemy began to land, a fire 
was comT enoed on them: the men being stationed a 



HlStOAlCAl utuot^. 183 

few yards apart, presented the appearance of a long 
line. The enemy oontmued to land, but not so ra- 
pidly; a second fire was given which they instantly 
c«tumed~-the other boats came up, but did not land. 
Our men fired a third *round, and they embarked in 
great confusion, and rowed off. Our- detachment 
returned to the body of our party, where they arrived 
just in time to beat off three other boats that came in; 
apparently to cut out two of the prizes. So(^ after 
they saw two boats standing for the kncb on the 
opposite side, and apprehended she must be taken 
from the appearance of tlie enemy's boats; but hap- 
pily these fears were. soon dispelled — sailing-master 
Paily throwing three shot so near them, that they 
hauled off without effecting a landing* 

- It was now nearly 4 P. M.-^our men much fa- 
^ tigued, the prisoners troublesome, the wind and cur* 
rent so strong as to make it impossible to get through 
the Rigolets, and a gun-boat could be seen beating up 
for the expedition. It was determined that Dr. Mor-. 
reti should go to fort Petites Coquilles (nine miles off) 
for a re-enforcement. Accordingly, he proceeded in 
a well-manned gig, and at 9 P. M. he reached the 
fort. Captain Newman promptly granted his request, 
and immediately embarked forty of his men; but be- 
fore they could arrive, Mr. Shields thought proper to 
discharge, on parole,* all the prisoners on the west- 
ern side. With the greatest exertion he was able to 
join the lanch on the other side and reach the fort 
next day at 2 o'clock, where twenty-one prisoners 
were delivered to captain Newman. 

* The eaemy refased to consider this parole as valid. 



184 HlSTO|LICAt MSVOXK. 

On the morning of the 19!tb, it was perceived that 
the enemy had evacuated, not a single man appearing* 
The commander-in-chief had already given orders to 
an officer to go out with a reconnoitring party, in or- 
der to ascertain whether the apparent evacuation were 
not a stmtagem, when a doctor belonging to the Bri- 
tish army arrived at our lines, with a letter from ge- 
neral Lambert, informing general Jackson that the 
army under his command had evacuated its position 
on the Mississippi, and had, for the present, relin- 
quished every undertaking against New Orleans and 
its vicinity. General Lambert recommended to the 
humanity and generosity of general Jackson, eighty 
wounded men, of whom three were officers, whom he 
was obliged to leave behind, as their wounds did not 
admit of their being removed. One of these officersi^ 
lieutenant Darcy, had had his two legs carried off by 
a shell, at the moment when, after having been on 
guard for several days successively, while, as we have 
observed, the enemy hourly apprehended an attack, 
he was taking some repose, stretched on the ground, 
at the entrance of his bivouac. 

Doctor Kerr, surgeon-general of our ^rmy, was 
Immediately sent with the British doctco* to Jumon- 
ville's plantation, where was the principal hospital of 
the British army, to visit the wounded, and make 
suitable arrangements for their accommodation. 

Shortly after, general Jackson ordered colonel 
Hinds, commanding the cavalry, to repair with all 
speed to Villerg's canal, and proceed along it as far 
as possible, harassing the enemy on his retreat. Ma- 



HISTOAXCAL MSKOIA. 185 

jttr LaicMteiwai oiUfireitto Sana k detachment of iuoh 
Of tbe native JUdttBnnidriaki bisi^attaUonaa were ex* 
pest huiiters^ Ui teour the woods in' the vicinity of 
ViUer6!8 cadoal, and pick ihp. 'the sthi^lers of the 
entfligr'a army, a&^ also such negroes as might have 
escaped frora' them; Tor, as niighc be expected) 
die British had carried off ail the negroes of the 
plantations occupied by their troops. 

JGrcneral Jackson, accompanied by the officers of 

Itisi staff,, werit to vi^w Ac British camp. - They had 

left in their^different batteries ibifrteen pieces of can- 

noq.and.'Caifronades, thd former spiked^ or With a 

f trunnion bcbken off, anddie latter with theif pom- 

iMQaons afe6 btokeh off^ so as to be no longer seffvice- 

-riUcy andiilso a quantity of cannon balls. The general 

next proceeded ta visit tfte wounded officers, whom 

*he assucdd that th^-y sHould receive every kind of 

assistance abd^^attention that cdurd'tend to proihote 

libeirictkrd A few days after, all the Wounded Were 

conveyed Id the 6«*am-boat W NeW Orleians, where 

thiey mire attended by the three siii-geons who had 

been'leftby general Latnbert for that purpose, AH 

the buildings, as also the ground, of Chalmette's, 

Biewiemi's^ and Laronde^s plantations, attested that 

our artillery must have been vdry dtJstrnctive to tihe 

enemy. Chalmette's stigar-hoUse, and the dW^tlin||^ 

;hou8e of Bienvenu, were perfotated in hdtoei^u^ 

/ pbces, by the balls of the ihSrine battery oh the right 

bank. 

Colonel' Laronde,' accompanied by colonel Kem- 
per, and a detachment of majot- Hinds's cavalry, Went 
in pursuit of the enemy through the ])i'air5e. They 

" B b 



186 HI^TOAICJlX S££IfOI]t. 

tDok'frar prisoners bcymd t&&tedoubt«t«Mi»i at the 
£{Stks:oi batyovL Masaht md Vilfevi's bdnal, and'ali- 
yanced within aiithile of the forks of b^yon Biemrena, 
where, concludkigfronqthe conftned soond of voices 
they heard, that the enemy. most be very numerous, 
and that it would be imi^rudent to 'advance any £sa*- 
•ther, they returned and made their report to general 
Jackson, . ^ i. J.. 

It aj^ars that» immediately after the ai&ir of 
tlie 8th of Januafy, the ei!tiemy had deterndoted to 
evacuate, and that he wsiS' desirous, of ..proceed- 
'ing as &r as possible. by land. For that purpose 
he thtew bridges over all' the smlEdlabay30us. and 
streams that fall into bayou Mazant' Jby the right 
bank, and at the confluence of bayou iumopinfle 
he had constructed a bridge of boate. The route 
still continued on the right bank, as 2br as the 
confluence of the bayous Mdzant and Bienvenu, 
where another bridge ,of boats transferred it ta the 
opposite bank, along which it continued as far as the 
beginning of a long elbow, where it tocdi^ a ctirecticm 
in a straight line across jtlie prairie, to the Catalonian 
village. (See plate No. 5.) 

At the confluence of bayou Jumonvilley tm the 
right, the enemy in his retreat had thrown up an 
epaulement to cover the passage; the same had been 
.done at the confluence of the bayous Bienvenu and 
Mazant^ and at the Cati^lonian village he had com- 
menced a large inclosure, capable of containing one 
thousand men, but had left it yufinished^ 

General Jackson received from major Overton, 
commanding at Ibrt St. Philip, a letter dated the 



lilSTOEICAX. tf JSMOIft. 187 

ISth itx the moniingf-annokiBcing to him thatithe ene« 
my had discontinued to throw shells into the i>r% 
and a^t his. vessels had descended the river before 
day. General Jackson wrote on the same day tathe 
si^cffet^y of war» infoifiaing him of :the double retreat 
Qf>the:enemy. (See Appendix, Not 32.) 

So early as the 17th» general Jackson had given 
to governor Claiborne the command on the right 
bank, and had prdered general Morgan to prepare to 
advance Avith ms^ hunck^d men, in order to harass the 
enemy on his retreat, which was not then expected to 
be^sp prompt and clandestine. 

The general requested the reverend abb# Du«- 
l^ourg, apostolical prefect for the state of Louisiana, 
t9 appoint a day of public prayer and thanksgiving, 
$or th^isiipal favour it had pleased the Supreme Being 
to show to our country, in delivering it from its ene- 
mies. (See the general's letter. No. 33.) 

Wq ;wiU now proceed to the relation of the bom- 
bardment of fort. St* Philip by the British; but it 
. seems proper tJxaH it be preceded by a short descrip- 
tion of the fort, and of the means that had been taken 
to put it in the best possible state of defence. 

BOMBARDMENT OF FORT ST. PHILIP, 

^T PLJQUEMIJVES. 

Fort St. Philip is an irregular work, the^ body 
a parallelogram. Approaches to it are nearly imprac- 
ticable, being surrounded by an impassable morass, 
a ditch, and in addition on the east by the bayou 
MardirGraa,,forty-five yards wide. In the fort were 
mounted twenty-nine twenty-four-pounders, a ihir- 



188 KI8T0&X^1L HXM6ia» 

teeivinoh mwtari an eight iflnd 'five-fliftd'^hail-inch 
bowitaer and a> nx-pomrder, hrid m the cov^-^vtr 
twcr thirtyawo pounders, mbutited on' a kvel with 
the wal(rr«' - .... 

During the summer of 1814, every eflbrt was 
made by the g^arrison of fort St. PhiBp, eonsistiBg <tf 
two inoomi^ete companies of artillery, to place that 
post in the state of defence ccwresponding with its 
import{inc<c as the key of Loubiana, commanditig the 
p«ss of the Mississippi* In October, the cahnoA lea- 
ving been remounted, the gun-carriages repaired, a 
signal station established three miles below the fort, 
altxMtations made in some of the batteries so as to af- 
ford security to the artillerists in case of an attack^ 
anjd additional wo^ks erected to protect the rear qf the 
Iprt, and the season approaching when an attack from 
th6>eneiny might be expected, it was suggested that 
if a battery \vas pbced on the opposite side of the ri- 
ver, thirty -t^vo-pouuders mounted in the covert- way, 
and a thirteen4nch mortar fixed in the fort, the de- 
fence of the pass would be then complete, supposing 
the old buildings destroyed, and the requisite num- 
ber of troops, arid quantity of ordnance stores, &c« 8tc; 
to be furnished. 

In the month of November, a company o.f infan- 
try re^enforced the garrison, and about the last of that 
month the inspector-general descended the river to 
the Balize, and caused a guard to be stationed there. 
Early in December, general Jackson visited the 
fort, and ordered the battery on the opposite side of 
the river to be immediately commenced, and that the 
thirty-two pounders and thkteen-inch mortar should 
be mounted as before mentioned. 



JilSTOBlCAL MEMOI&* 189 

The month of the river was now jnore closely 
blockaded than before, and the guard stationed at the. 
Balize was surprised and taken by tlie boats of the 
Herald sloop of wzr. The British at this time daily 
landed at the Balis^e, at which place a few of our 
pilots still remained. A re-enforcement arrived at 
the garrison of another com{)any of the 7th infantry, 
and a comspany of volunteer free men of colour* 

About the 15th December, major Overton of the 
rifle ipDrps was placed in command , captain Woll- 
stonecraft, of the artillery, who had charge of the post 
since the month of May, being ordered to New Or- 
leans. On the 17th, the arrival of the enemy in our 
waters was ascertained, and a few days afterwards the 
fate of the gun-boats was known* From the 23d every 
effort wa$ made to repel the attack which it was sup« 
posed would shortly be made. The interior was 
disencumbered of the rubbish of the barracks which 
had been torn dov^n, the main magazine was disguis- 
ed and secured by a covering of timber and earth, 
small magazines ^ere erected, and covers made for 
the f roops^ as a security from the fragments of shells, 
should a bombardment t^ke place, and the garrison 
were constaudy on fatigue (under charge of captain 
WoUstonecraft, who had been ordered back from 
New Orleans,) for the above purpose, and in mount- 
ing the thirty-two-pounders in the covert- way, and 
the thirteen^inch mortar on the Spanish bastion, un- 
til the 3d of January. The 24th December, cap- 
tain Lagau's company arrived. The battery on the 
opposite side, which was commenced on the 15th 
December, progressed but slowly, as many of the 



190 HISTOAICAL MEMOIB* 

carpenters, negroes, and the superintendant of artifi- 
cers, had ascended the river on the first notice of the 
arrival of the enemy. The cannon intended for that 
fort were taken over the river to fort St# Philip as a 
place of security, being useless in the then unfinish- 
ed state of the works. The carpenters haying been 
sent back from the 3d until the 8th January, the 
works on the new battery were carried on witli unre- 
mitted exertion, and wlien our look-out boat return-^ 
- ed with information on that day of the approach # the 
enemy, but a few days more labour were required fdr 
Ae completing df the gun-carriages and the work it* 
self. On the 8th the gun-boat No. 65 warped into 
the bayou, and took post so as to flank the rear of the 
fort. To prevent the unfinished battery on the oppo- 
site side, which we were obliged to abandon, from 
being of any use to the enemy, every material capa- 
ble of being removed was brought over the river. 
Our attention was solely occupied on our defence, 
and we anxiously awaited the approach of the enemy, 
which was announced to us by signal on the morn- 
ing of the 9th. Abput 12 o'clock they hove in sight, 
when the funiace for hot shot was lighted, and the 
tfoops stationed at the posts before assigned to them 
in case of such an event taking place. 

The signal station was abandoned about 1 o'clock, 
and, in the hurry to escape, the guard omitted to fire 
the buildings and lime-kiln, which they had been or- 
dered to destroy, and at 2 o'clock that position was 
occupied by the enemy, by a fbr«e htt^ed froni tliejr 
vessels. 



HISTORICAL MEMOII^ 191 

The garrison was composed of the following 
companies, viz* • 

Field and StaflF, - - - - - 2 
Captain WoUstonecraft's Artiller} , : - 64 
Murray's ArtiUexy^ - - - 50 
Detachment of captain Walsh's Artillery, 3 
Captain Broutin's 7th regt. Infantry, - 78 

Waides's 7th Infantry, - ,- 85 
Lagan's Louisiana Volunteers, 54 

» Listeau's Free men of Colour, 3Q ' 

366 

making, with the cr^w of gun-boat No. 65, four 
hjondred and six o&ctive men. A detachment of 
lieutenant Cunning^iam's sailc»*s, und^ the directioii 
(rf that officer, had charge of two tbirty.two-pbund- 
ers mounted in the covert-way. Captain Walsh 
commanded the right bastion: the centre bastion, on 
which an eight«incU howitzer and a thirteen-inch 
mortar were mounted, was commanded by captain 
WollAonecraft; and the left battery was commanded 
by captain Murray. The iniantry and volunteers not 
attached to the canmm, were stationed in the rear of 
ibe cprtaiuy and otherwise posted under the command 
of captain Broutin, so as to be able to support the 
troops on the batteries, and to act as occasion might 
require. Captain Lagau's two lieutenants and a party 
of his company of Louisiana volunteers were attach- 
ed to the artillerists on the centre and left batteries; 
At 3 o'clock the enemy advanced several boats to 
sound opposite a point about one mile and a half 
from the fort, which had been cleared of its timber 



192 Jj^ISTORICAL MBMOIft. 

some time before, by onder of the geaeraL The 
S;uns of the left battery and those of the water batte- 
ries were opened on them, and they retreated. Ha- 
ving ascertained the distance to which our shot reach- 
ed their vessels, consisting of a sToop of war, a gun- 
brigy a schooner and two bomb- vessels, they came to 
anchor out of the range of our shot, at the distance 
of 9960 yards; the bomb- vessels formed broadside to 
the fort, behind the point of land, k little in advance 
of the men of war, hoisted their colours* and com- 
menced the action. The first shell from the enemy 
fell short, but the next burst over the interior of the 
fort* All that day and night the firing continued, 
with only short intervals, generally a shell ever}* two 
minutes. No injury was done to the men or works, 
as tlSt shellsi from the nature of the soil, sunk in the 
ground, without bursting, or burst under the ground, 
at so great a depth as to produce no other effect than 
a tremulou^s motion. In the night several boats sp" 
proached near the fort, and came so close as to allow 
us almost distinctly to hear their crews conversing. 
They fired several rounds of grApe and round-shot 
over and into the fort. The wind blowiag fide up 
the river, and in gusts during the night, tlxis approach 
of the enemy was only considered as an effort to di-* 
vert our attention fi"om their vessels, which might at^ 
tempt to pass under our smoke. Their attack was 
therefore received in silence, and our attention direct*' 
cd to the vessels alone. Finding we were not to be 
moved by this stratagem, they retired, and during 
the rcbt of the night fired a few bhcils from their 
boats stationed on both sides of the river. Oa the 



HISTORICAL UEUOIR. 193 

IDth the bombardment was continued with the-^me 
vivacity as on the former day, except that a cessation 
<)ccurred of about two hours at noon and at sun- 
down, which respite was daily granted us during the 
remainder of the siege. Occasionally on these two 
days a fire was opened from the batteries of the fort, 
but the shot fell short. On the third day of the bom- 
bardment several pieces of shells struck the flag-staff 
and in one instance nailed the halyards to the mast, 
in another severed them in the midst of the fire; tlie 
topmast was lowered down, and it took nearly an 
hour to have the flag replaced on the mast. This 
was done by a sailor who hacf the courage to stand on 
the cross-trees, exposed as a mark; and though the fire 
from the enemy was very brisk and well-directed^ 
and several shells burst over his head, he escaped 
unhurt.* The evening of this day the enemy direct- 
ed their fire with great exactness at the contractor's 
store, supposing it to be Ae main magai^ine. Several 
whole shells passed through this building, and two 
burst in it, killing one man and wounding another; 
but as their spies had only described the magazine in 
the state in which it was a few days before the attack 
commenced, they were deceived; and by making 
every effort to lodge shells in the before- mentioned 
building, which had the appearance of the powder- 
magazine in its former state, the magazine itself es- 
caped, having only been struck two or three times by 
fragments of shells. 

At four this evening the garrison opened an ani- 
mated fire for a quarter of an hour on the bomb ves- 
sels from all the guns that could bear en them, but 

c c 



194 HISTORICAL MEMOIA. 

apparently without any other effect than deranging 
their fire; it served however, to animate our men, 
showed the quickness and precision with which our 
guns were pointed and served, and gave a foretaste 
of what might be expected should the enemy attempt 
to pass up. 

On the 12th, 13th and 14th the firing continued 
with the usual intervals, doing comparatively little 
injury: the enemy, probably aware of the ineffica- 
cy of their shells when discharged so as to alight 
whole in the interior of the works, now arranged 
. their fuses, so that Ae shells burst in the air over 
the works, and scattered fragments therein in every 
direction. The evening of the 14th a man was kill- 
ed on the right battery, another slightly wounded, a 
man on the centre battery lost his leg, and several of 
the gun-carriages were materially injured; on the right 
and centre batteries, the thirty-two-pounder in the 
covert way, in the angle of the Spanish bastion, was 
struck five times, and for upwards of an hour was 
rendered unserviceable. Several shells entered the 
blacksmith's shop; one burst near jthe main maga- 
zine, and another passed into the ditch through the 
magazine in the covert way. 

This evening we were employed in carrying int© 
the fort all the timber that we could collect, and ia 
forming covers between the guns, so as effectually 
to secure the men on the batteries from the fragments 
of shells, and to shelter them from the rain, which 
had fallen, with little intermission, from the com- 
mencement of the siege. This work was finished on 
the evening of the 15th, and it is almost incredible 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 19% 

that during all this time, though the men were more 
exposed than before, passing in and out of the fort in 
parties, -after materials, no one was hurt. At this 
time the interior of the fort was nearly a pond of wa- 
ter; the tents stood, many of them, torn by shells, but 
unoccupied. The small magazines were also strength- 
ened, and an additional quantity of earth thrown on 
them. This evening several boats arrived, with am- 
munition from New Orleans, fuses for the thirteen- 
inch mortars, 8cc. &c. The 16th was occupied in 
conveying the powder and Ordnance stores from about 
a mile above the fort into the magazine; and the 
weather being fair, we were comparatively cdmfort- 
able, and in high spirits, having now the means of 
annoying the enemy. On the morning of the I7th, 
the fire from the enemy was not as animated as usual; 
in the evening we returned their fire fi*om our mortar 
with considerable efiect, as far as we were able to 
judge, and for several hours they threw shells more 
frequently than before. At night one of our shells 
struck one of their bomb vessels; we distinctly 
heard the shock, and for near five minutes the fire 
from one of the vessels was discontinued. The firing 
continued during the night of the 17th; several shells 
were lodged in the parapet; one burst passing through 
the ditch into the angle of the centre bastion. This 
was the last shot we received: a little before day the 
enemy got under way, and at daylight we could per- 
ceive the stemmost vessel descending the riven 

From three o'clock on the 9th until daylight on 
the 18th the bombardment continued with very little 
intermission. During that time the enemy threw 



196* HISTOBICAL 1I£U0IR. 

more than one thousand shells and carcases^ expend^ 
ed upwards of seventy tons of shells, and more thas 
twenty thousand pounds of powder, besides snuU 
shells, and round and grape-shot from their boats. Du- 
ring the whole of this bombardment, we lost no more 
than two men, <Hie of whom was killed on the r^ht 
battery, and the other in the contractor's store. Our 
wounded were two men on the right, and three on the 
centre battery, one in the store, and one in the inte- 
rior of the garrison. 

The troops were on the battery nine d^s, five 
days without cover; and exposed to the rain and wea- 
ther which was extremely cold. They cannot be denl* 
ed praise for the unremitted exertion they made to re- 
ceive the enemy, the fatigues they underwent during 
the bombardment, which was almost incessant, and 
the patience they exercised thus exposed. Perhaps the 
duration of the siege would not have been so long,, 
had the fuses, sent from the northward, been of a 
good quality; for several days the mortar, with which 
only there was any probability of reaching the ene- 
my, was entirely or nearly useless. From the effect 
produced after good fuses arrived (for there was no 
materials in the g^ison to make any) it may perhaps 
be surmised that the enemy's vessels would have 
found it unsafe to have remained for so long a time 
in the station tliey occupied within the range of our 
shells. 

From the day the attack commenced until it con- 
cluded, we were constantly employed in preparing 
grape and canister-shot from bar lead, making up 
fixed ammunition, repairing, gun-carriages, making 



ftlSTOftlCAL 1C£M0IR« 197 

I 

implements, &c. Sec. and we were, in feet, in a much 
better state of defence, and better provided when it 
terminated, than at its commencement. 

After the enemy left us we had time to examine 
the interior, and the ground in the neighbourhood of 
the fort; upwards of one hundred shells had fallen and 
buried themielves within the fort; the surrounding 
buildings, workshops, stores, and the hospital, were 
almost in ruins, and the ground for half a mile 
around, was literally torn up in every direction. (See 
Appendix, No. 34.) 

On the 20th of January the general made the 
necessary dispositions for the protection of the most 
vulnerable parts of the country, in case the ene- 
my should attempt a new attack. The 2d regiment 
of militia was ordered to encamp on Villere's plan- 
tation, while a detachment of the Kentucky troops 
encamped on that of Lacoste; and on the 21st, all the 
troops stationed on Jackson's lines, except the 7th 
regiment, which was left to guard them, returned to 
tpwn. 

Their arrival was a triumph; the non-combatant 
part of the population of New Orleans, that is, the 
aged, the infirm, the matrons, daughters and children, 
all went out to meet their deliverers, to receive witli 
felicitations the saviours of their country. Every 
countenance was expressive of gratitude — joy spar- 
kled in every feature, on beholding fatliers, brothers, 
husbands, sons, who had so recently saved the lives, 
fortunes, and honour of their families, by repelling an 
enemy come to conquer and subjugate the country. 



198 HISTOBICAL UZUOIR. 

Nor were the ^nsatkms of the brave soldiers less live- 
ly, on seeing themselves about to be cotopensated for 
all their sufferings by the enjoyment of domestic felici- 
ty. They once more embraced Aeobjects 6t their ten- 
dei^st affections, were hailed by them as their saviour? 
and deliverers; and felt conscious that they had deserved 
the honourable title. How light, how triffing, how in« 
considerable did their past toils and dangers appear to 
them at this glorious moment! All was forgottaen, all 
painful recollections gave way to the most exquisite 
sensations of inexpressible joy. 

On the 22d, general Jackson gave orders for erect- 
ing a strong battery at the forks of the bayous Jffien- 
venu and Mazant. For that purpose, colonel La- 
ronde was ordered to take the command of two hun- 
dred Kentuckians from camp Dupr6, where general 
Thomas's division had been stationed some days be- 
fore, and proceed to reconnoitre the enemy. Colonel 
Laronde came up with the British advanced-posts at 
the forks of the bayous Jumouville and Mazant, 
where they had thrown up intrenchmcnts, and had a 
strong detachment. Two large barges, and four small 
ones, were stationed opposite the intrenchmcnts in the 
bayou; these barges fired twenty discharges of can- 
non, loaded with grape-shot, against colonel Laronde's 
detachment, as soon to it approached within can- 
non-shot; but without any effect After having recon- 
noitred the enemy, finding it impossible to cross over 
for want of boats, bayou Jumonville being in that 
place sixty yards wide, colonel Laronde retired. 

The^Sd of January having been appointed as a 
day of 'wSnksgiving, for the interposition of Provi- 



UISTOAICAL MEMOIR. 199 

dence, od which' Te D^um was to be sung, every 
preparation was iqiade to render the festival worthy 
the occasion. A temporary triumphal arch was erect- 
ed in the middle of the grand square, opposite the 
principal entrance of the cathedral. The different 
uniform companies of Plauche's battalion lined both 
sides of the way, from the entrance of the square 
towards the river, to the church. Thc^ balcpnies 
and windows of the city hall, the parsonage house, 
and all the adjacent buildings, were filled with spec- 
tators* The whole square, and the streets leading to 
it, were thronged with people. The triumphal arch 
was supported by six columns. Amongst those on 
the right was a young lady representing Justice, and 
on the left another representing Liberty. Under the 
arch were two young children, each on a pedestal, 
holding a crown of laurel. From the arch, in 
the middle of the square to the church, at proper 
intervals, were ranged young ladies, representing the 
different states and territories composing the Ameri- 
can union, all dressed in white, covered with transpa- 
rent veils, and wearing a silver star op their fore- 
heads. Each of these young ladies held in her right 
hand a flag, inscribed with the name of the state she 
represented, and in lier left a basket trimmed with 
blue ribands, and full of flowers. Behind each was 
a shield suspended on a lance stuck in the ground, 
inscribed with the name of a state or territory. The 
intervals had been so calculated, that the shields, 
linked together with verdant festoons, occupied the 
distance from the triumphal arch to the church. 



200 HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 

General Jackson, accompanied by the officers of 
his staff, arrived at the entrance of the square, wh^e 
he was requested to proceed to the church by the 
walk prepared for him* As he passed under the 
arch, he received the crowns of laurel from the two 
children, and was congratulated in an address spoken 
by miss Kerr, who represented tlie state of Loui- 
siana. The general then proceeded to the church, 
amidst the salutations of the young ladies representing 
the different states, who strewed his passage with 
flowers. At the entrance of the church he was receiv- 
ed by the abb6 Duboui^, who addressed him in a 
speech suitable to the occasion, and conducted him 
to a seat prepared for him near the altar. Te Deum 
was chaunted with impressive solemnity, and soon af- 
ter a guard of honour attended the general to his quar- 
ters, and in the evening the town, with its suburbs, 
was splendidly illuminated. (See the abb6 Dubourg's 
speech, and the general's reply, in the Appendix, 
No. 35.) 

Thus, in the space of a little less than one month, 
was terminated a campaign, ever memorable in the an- 
nals of America. On the 23d of December the enemy 
succeeded so far as to take a position on the Mississip- 
pi, and on the I9th of January he had already disappear- 
ed, leaving behind him the dead bodies of some thou- 
sands of private soldiers, and of many officers of dis- 
tinction, and carrying with him the shame of having 
miscarried in an undertaking so easy to accomplish, 
as he at first believed; but, as he was taught by thirty 
day*s experience, really too arduous to be attempted 
with any prospect of success.- 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 201 

The British troops fbund that, notwithstanding 
the appalling renown which they thought had preced- 
ed their expedition to Louisiana^ and the striking ef- 
fect they expected would be produced by the very title 
oi heroes of fFelUngtoriy which several regiments had , 
vauntingly assumed^ they could make no impression, 
even with a great superiority of numbers, on undisci- 
plined militia, not one-fourth of whom had ever before 
seen a camp, or had any idea of the art of war; The 
whole success, indeed^ of this boasted expedition, was 
the occupation of a tongue of land, beyond which the 
British army never durst advance, and which it left 
drenched with its bravest blood. 

During their stay on the banks of the Mississippi, 
the British tnade several excursions into the settle- 
ment of Terre-aux-Boeufs, and even as far as Mr. 
Benjamin Mot^an's plantation, two miles below the 
junction of the road on the Mississippi, with that of 
Terre-aux-Boeufs. They carried off the cattle of all 
the plantations, giving to the planters, in payment, 
one-halfor two-thirds of their value, and &at seldom 
in money, but generally in draughts on the commissa- 
ry.general of their army. The youngest son of gene- 
ral Viller6, a youth about the age of fourteen, had 
been detained by them on his father's plantation, from 
their first arrival. On the eve of their evacuation, 
which he did not perceive till pretty late noxt day, 
he received in payment of about eighty head of cattle 
consumed on the plantation, th^ sum of five hundred 
dollars in specie, which he returned, instead of three 
tKbusand ddlars, which was their value at a low price. 
Tliey also, as I have already observed, cwried off all 

Dd 



302 HISTORICAL XEMOXB. 

the negroes of' the plantations thef had occupied. 
There were doubtless some amongst these, who were 
very willing to follow them; but by far the greater 
part, particularly the women, were decoyed, or carri- 
ed off by force. 

It is an undeniable fact, that during the whole 
Campaign, the negroes were employed by the British 
in working for the army in general, or as servants to 
officers. I will not speak of the pillage of the diflfer- 
ent houses they occupied, that being an evil insepara- 
ble faom the presence of an army in ail countries; but 
here, as in Virginia, and on the shores of the Chesa- 
peake, the conduct of the British with respect to ne- 
groes caraiot be palliated. After having repeatedly 
declared their intention to restore them to their own- 
ers, on tlieir coming tb claim them; after having 
gsdned time by specious pretences, the result was that 
they carried almost all the negroes off with them. Yet 
those negroes were private property, and without them 
their masters could not cultivate their plantations. 
Thus, several planters are ruined by the loss of their 
slaves, taken from them by the British, and are 
obliged to let their lands liefallow. 

During the night of the 25th of January, colonel 
Hinds with his troop of horse, genei^ Humbert and 
the engineer Latrobe, went once more to recoraioitre 
the enemy's position, which they found he had not 
changed Colonel Hinds had one man kiUed and 
two wounded, by the cannon of the enemy; and find- 
ing it impossible to execute, for the present, the ob- 
ject he had in view, which was to erect a battery on 
bayoa Bienvenu, in the place best calculated to op- 



HISTOSICAL MEMOIR* 203 

pose the enemy, should he be disposed to revisit the 
Mississippi, he returned with hb detachment. Gene- 
ral Jackson, aware that the enemy was still master of 
bayou Bienvenu, on which he had fortified himself, as 
also of lake Borgne, which enabled him still to attack 
many parts of the country, and it being impossible to 
discover against what quarter he might direct his 
forces, had several days before, ordered a redoubt to 
be (Constructed on Philippon's canal, another on Re* 
gio^s, at Terrecaux-Boeufs, and a third on bayou Bosuf 
at the cut of lake Lery, the communication of which 
with the sea, by the river aux Chenes, though very 
Icmgand difficult, might still admit of Bat boats. Lieu- 
tenant Bosquez of the artillery, had likewise been or- 
dered to continue the construction of the redoubt be- 
gun on the riyer of Chef-Menteur, at the confluence 
of bayou Sauvage; the number of troops encamped 
on Lafon's plantation, had been augmented with co- 
kmel Nelson's regiment of volunteers, from the Mis- 
sissippi territory, four hundred and fifty men strong. 
Major Reynokb Occupied the post of the Temple, 
at Barataria, mud a strong detachment was stationed 
down the river la Fourche, and another post establish* 
ed at Tigouyon. could give notice of the approach of 
theenemy in time tooppose his landing, Whichhe could 
not attempt, until he had first penetrated into lake Pont- 
chartrain, by forcing the passage of Chef-Menteur, or 
that of the Rigolets, defended by the fort of Petites 
Coquiiles. The troops were distributed agreeably to 
these arrangements: those of generals CoSee and Car- 
rol,i had returned to their encampment on Avart's 
plantation, four miles above New Orleans; the Ken- 



204 HISTOKICAL MEMOIR* 

t^ckians were encamped on Dupre's line; Plauch&^s 
battalion, the 44th regiment, and major Daquin's bat* 
talion of men of, colour, had returned to town; that <rf 
major Lacoste furnished detachments for Chef-Men^ 
teur; Jackson's lines were guarded by the 7th regi- 
ment; the 1st and 2nd of militia, a detachment of 
Kentuckians, and another of the militia of Red river» 
commanded by colonel Plauch6, occupied Villerg's 
plantatioii, and furnished a strong advanced-guard, 
posted in the place where the enemy kad thrown up 
fortifications when he landed at the junction of bayou 
Mazant and Villere's canal. 

The right bank was guarded by the drafted mi- 
litia, general Hopkins's brigade, and colonel John- 
son's regiment, which had arrived from Rapides on 
the 14th. The levy. en- masse of the militia had been 
arriving by companies every day from the 8tb of the 
month. Every thing was in readiness vigorously to 
repulse. the enemy, on whatever point he might make 
an attempt. All the damaged arms had been repairr 
pdy and a barge had arri%'ed from Pittsburgh with 
muskets, cannon, and balls. Louisiana ^ad been de- 
fended and saved with means much inferior to those 
of the enemy; and towards the end of January she 
was in condition to defy double the force that had 
at first attacked her. 

About this time the Temaining prisoners com- 
prised in the cartel, agreed to on the 18th of January, 
who being on board the British fleet could not be 
sooner returned, were delivered up at Petites Co-. 
quillcs, and arrived in town. 



HISTORICAL MEKOIR. 205 

During the course of the campaign the mayor <|||^ 
New Orleans, Mr. Nicholas Girod, and all those em- ^ 
ployed under him, manifested the greatest zeal in as- 
sisting the troops to repel the invaders. 

The ladies of New Orleans were constantly em- 
ployed m making up clothes for the militia of Tennes- 
see, whom so long an absence from their homes had 
reduced to extreme want in that particular, as most of 
them had served in the campaign against the Creek 
Indians, and in the expedition against Pensacola, 
in which they had made many long and difficult 
marches. 

General Jackson, in a letter to the mayor, express- 
ed his sense of the assistance He had received from 
that magistrate, and the citizens of New Orleans. 
The perusal of that letter cannot fail to interest the 
reader. (See Appendix, No. 36.) 

By a resolution of the 2d of February the legisla-t 
ture voted thanks to the troops of Tennessee, Ken- 
tucky, and the Mississippi Territory; to their com* 
manders, generals Carroll, Coffee, Thomas, and 
Adair, and also to colonel Hinds, for their services 
in the defence of the state. Those of general Jackson 
they thought proper to pass over in silence; but that 
silence produced a greater effect in his favour in the 
public mind than the most laboui'ed panegyric would 
have done. It was in vain to attempt to throw into 
the shade services so eminent, and so fresh in the re- 
membrance of a grateful people; they were present to 
every imagination, and, in the language of the Roman 
liistorian, shone with superior lustre for the very 
reason that they were not displayed. Prafulgehant 



206 HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 

0amus €t Brutus^ eo ipso quod effigies eorum nan 
visebantur.* 

The governor, in compliance with the assembly*s 
resolution, wrote a letter to each of the ofiicers men- 
tioned in it, to which they severally replied, (See 
Appendix, No. 37.) General Coffee's answer iu 
particulariy worthy of observation. At the same 
time that he expresses his grateful sense of the high 
value which the legislature are pleased to set on his 
services, he cannot forbear to hint what it would be« 
come them to have done in justice to the great man 
under whose guidance those laurels were earned, 
which they had distributed with sqch an unequal 
hand. 

This act of flagrant injustice is attributed to the 
discontent of some of the leading members of the le^ 
|;islative body. History will search into their motives, 
and hold up to the animadversionr of posterity those 
unwordiy intrigues, which produced an instance of 
ingratitude unparalleled in the amials of mankind. 

Let me not be understood as reflecting on all the 
members; several of them theire are, who evinced, by 
their conduct, both in the camp and in the house, 
that they were proof against the machinations of party 
spirit, and far above being ^]fluenced by petty cona« 
derations of private interest. But ingratitude is sup. 
posed to be characteristic of republics. It is well 
known that the very individuals, who extolled with 
enthusiasm, the measures adopted by general Jack* 
son, early in the campaign, while the enemy was ho- 
vering on our coast, became his malignant traducers, 

• Tacit. Aniial. 1. 3. 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 207 

wfaen die danger was over, and they could enjoy the 
fruits of hislbresight and energy, to which the coun- 
try owes its safety. 

On the 4th of February, CoL Edward Livingston 
was sent by general Jackson with a flag of trace, for 
the purpose of negociating a cartel for the general ex- 
change of prisoners (those of the navy not being yet 
exchanged) and of endeavouring at the same time to 
obtain the restitution of the negroes carried off by the 
British^ at the time of their evacuation. To under- 
stand this matter, it i^ necessary to peruse the corres- 
pondoice that took place on that subject, between 
l^eneral Lambert, admiral Cochrane, and general Jack- 
mn. (See Appendix, No. 38.) 

The exchange of prisoners was agreed on and ar- 
ranged to the satb&ction of both parties. As to the 
negroes, general Lambert and admiral Cochrane in- 
flexibly adhered to the principle they had laid down, 
|hat they could not be restored, without their own 
consent. (See Appendix, No. 38.) 



SECOND ATTACK OF FORT BOWYER. 
The British army having entirely abandoned the 
banks of the Mississippi^ and those of the bayou Bien- 
venu, proceeded towards Mobile point. The officers 
who commanded the expedition had conceived hopes 
of takmg fort Bowyer, situate at the extremity of 
that point, in an advantageous position, as I have al- 
leady observed, for commanding the entrance of Mo- 
bile; but incapable, in its present condition, of defend- 
ing the point, or preventing the enemy*s becoming 
master of the peninsula. 



208 HISTOEJCAL MEHOIB. 

After having suffered such signal and unforeseen 
reverses, the honour of the British ariM seemed to 
require that their troops should achieve some exploit 
that might compensate, at least, for what could not be 
retrieved, and afford some consolation to the wounded 
pride of Britain. Every disposition, therefore, was 
made that could tend to insure the success of an attack 
on fort Bowyer. The enemy had learned by experi- 
ence, in his former attack, that that fort possessed on 
the sea- side means of defence, which rendered it formi- 
dable to ships; and though the naval force that could 
then be brought against it was sufficient for its speedy 
reduction, it was not improbable but the attempt would 
cost the enemy the loss of part of his squadron. He 
therefore prudently determined to attack the fort by 
land. 

It has already appeared, from the account of the 
attack made on it on the 15th of September, that fort 
Bowyer'was so weak on the land-side, as to be inca* 
pable of defence against any consideiable. force. 

On the 6th of February the British fleet was 
descried off Dauphine island. On the 7th, at nine 
o'clock in the morning, it separated into several divi- 
sions. Twenty-five vessels anchored about five miles 
from the fort, in a circular position, extending from 
Dauphine island towards the peninsula of the Mobile. 
Thirteen ships of the line, or frigates, came to anchor 
about one mile from the land, in a line parallel with 
the coast, and at the distance of about two miles and 
a half from the back of the fort. In the afternoon se- 
veral barges were perceived on the look out, near 
Dauphine island. They returned to their several ships 



JHIStORICAL HIMOIft. £09 

towards sunset. A few boats however still conti* 
Qued, during th^t night, to )^eep up an ince^avit com* 
niuntcatio& wiUi the different ships of the fleet* 

Early in the morning of tihe 8th the enemy land* 
td his troops, to the number of five thousand men, 
opposite the anchoring ground. They encamped at 
nearly an equal distance from both shores of the pe^ 
ninsula, which in that part is only about half a .milQ 
in breadth* Their camp was covered, on the side ad*' 
joining the continent, by two batteries erected half a 
mile from the epcampmieiit The battery on th^ 
n€^ side (marked B on the Map, plate No* 9.) 
mounted two field pieces, ai^ wa^ protected by two 
hundred men; the pieces were mounted behind a 
' JNimp^ p^apset, in front of which was a ditch that 
communicated with a lagoon, extending over twp 
Ihirds of the breadth of die isthmus. The remaining 
ispace, as £ur as the shore of the oce^,. was cut by a 
linencfa, and covered with an epaujiineiit, behind which 
were mouuted four pieces of canuQn, (m;arked A on 
<he Map) and protected by a dctachmwt of jthree bw/L- 
dried men* By the erection of theise jt^wobaitteries, fort 
Bowyer was coi^pletely out pff fropx receiving any 
succours by land; and even could t^y have pe^m 
Jtikes^f it would stiU have been nece^s^y to fqrce the 
c^amp, in order to arrive at tfa^ |brt. Four gun- boats, 
cwl^ch the enemy had taken from us at Majbeuceu^ 
island, were ^t aiK^hor cjpse to the shpre, and covered 
the two extremities of ^ camp oa the side of the 
gulf* On the o[^)osite shore, wUhin the^bay, several 
barges and boats served to keep up a constant com- 
muxup^ition with D^uphine island* On the east p^t 
I P e 



21Q I^ISTORICAL l^EMOIR. 

of that islandy opposite the fort, was.stattoned general 
Kean's division, for the purpose of re-enforcing the 
principal camp, or of acting on any other point, as oc- 
casion might require. Towards noon the enemy 
X ^ caused a number of riflemen, and some other detach- 
ments, to advance towards the fort to a considerable 
distance from his camp. A few discharges of cannon 
stopped* their progress, and forced them to seek shel- 
ter behind sand hillocks, or in ditches. Our riflemen 
fired on several of the British s<^ntinels, of whom 
one was killed. About nine in the evening a body of 
troops was seen advancing towards the fort, and was 
likewise forced to retire by a few discharges of our 
cannon. 

On the 9th, at break of day, it was discovered 
that tlie enemy had begun to cut a trench parallel to 
the curtain on themorth side; and shortly after a brisk 
fire of artillery was directed against his works, which 
he had already advanced to the length of one hundred 
and fifty yards. The extremity of the trench was per- 
pendicular to the shore of. the bay, and joined the 
downs, that skirted the whole compass of the peninsu^ 
la, so that the enemy, in following the shore between 
the downs and the sea, had a communication from his 
camp to the trench, secure from all danger. He had 
stationed in the trench 750 riflemen, who, during the 
whole time of the siege, kept bp, day and night, a 
fire of musketry, directed chiefly against our artillery, 
men, who could not show themselves at the em- 
brasure without being immediately assailed with' a 
shower of bullets. Notwithstanding the constant fire 
from orur cannon, the enemy succeeded in erecting 



HISTORICAL HSMOIl. 311 

batteries on the sandy mound that commands the 
fort. At ncion some shells were thrown into the 
trench, which partly dispersed the soldiers stationed 
there; after which our riflemen dislodged almost all 
the others. Two ships now anchored between Mo- 
bile point and Dauphine island, and several boats full 
of men were passing and repassing the whole day 
between Dauphine island and Navy cove, lying at the 
distance of three miles from the back of fort Bow- 
yer, behind the British camp. About two in the af- 
ternoon the enemy was employed in cutting down 
and levelling the summit of the gre^t mound; a few 
discharges from the battery of the right flank diq>era- 
ed them, and in the course of the afternoon, the other 
parties at work were much incommoded by our 
bombs and shells. Two barges having approached 
the fort, were received with several discliarges of can- 
non, which obliged them to return towards Dauphine 
islands The fire of our artillery and musketry was 
incessant the whole day until sunset. 

During the 10th, the enemy continued his works, 
notwithstanding the fire from the artillery of. the fort. 
His riflemen were also engaged with ours, while his 
barges were employed in transporting troops from 
Dauphine island to Navy cove. Another trench had , 
been commenced on the south fshore, at the dis* 
tance of three hundred yards, so as to be made, 
without much difficulty, to unite with that on the 
north side. Had the siege been protracted, these two 
trenches would have completely invested the fort. 
On the 11th, by break of day, it was discovered that 
during the night the enejny had advanced his works 



212 itt^tORtCAL IIElftOtk* 

to within forty yards of the ditch of the fort, ti^Mdh 
was now completely hemmed in on its two sides hc^ 
hind« He had also completed the establishment of 
his batteries, erected ^t the distance of from three 
hundred yards to five hundred yards from Ae foit, 
whose rear batteries began to play. We hoped to 
hanre dislodged him from the adviintageous posU 
tion he had taken; but after having for some time kept 
up a very brisk fire, we found our expectations frus- 
trated by the parapets of his batteries, which were 
from "fifteen to eighteen feet thick. By this time he 
had mounted on his battery, eight howitzers, two 
mortars, four eighteen pounders, widi other jneces 
of inferior calibre. 

About 10 o^clock, awhite flag was seen flying On 
the back of Ac trench; it was answered from the fort, 
atld a siispeni^ion of hostilities took plaee. Lieutenant* 
Colonel Lawrence then received ffom major-general 
Lambert, a summons to capitulate; bn Which he dc* , 
sired all the afficers of the garrison to repair to his 
J^uarters, where he laid brfore thfetn the articles of 
capitulation J)r6poscd, knd fOrah attswerto wMtJh dn- 
ly half an hour was allowed. Thiat term was ihdMd 
prbldnged unlSrhoon; but the enemy required the 
surrender of the fort tKat vei^ evehlrtg; which atticte 
being rejected, it was finally agreed that the garrison 
should march put rieSct day at no6ti. (For articles of 
capitulation, 'isee Appendix, No. 39.) 

Next day, 12th of Febhiary, the garrison evacu- 
ated the fort',' agreeably to iht capitulation, atid tfic 
evacuation was completely eficcted by two o*clo(ik in 
the aFternobn. Tile ttobps wefe embarked on board 



fiirTOHicAL uzuxnn. 213 

three ships of the line, where the officers and ^Idiers 
were treated with all the civilities due to brave mefv 
foreed to comply with the resistless exigency of cir- 
cumstances. 

The loss sustained by the garrison during the 
siege, amounted only to one man kilted, and ten 
wounded, among the latter was the brave commander* 
The bed^egers hid aboutfoiity men kitted or woimd^- 
ed. 

Fltmi this circumstantial account of the takiiigof 
fort Bbwyer, the impartial reader will see that the 
brave garrison who defended it, being left to ihefar 
own resources, deprived of all communioation» and • 
cut off from all hope of receiving reUef, excited oH 
the means in their power to defisnd the £oart intrusted 
to them; never failing to annoy the enemy, vfbcn he 
came within the range of their guns. What could 
they do more? What useful purpose could it have 
answered to expose themselves to a bombardment in 
a fort entirely constraded of timber, so combustible 
that a single shell felling within the p^i&pet, would 
have sufficed to set the whole fort on fire? Attacked 
on Uie land side, what defence could they make 
agfednst saxteen pieces of artillery, within so shcHt a 
distance, behind strong intrenchments, that in leas 
than half an hour would have battered down the para- 
pets of the fort, on that side not more itim three feet 
thick, above the platforms? 

As no {ttrt 6{ the fert was bomb proof, the am- 
munition was exposed, nor could even the wounded 
be^shellewd; ^sothat they with the whole garrison 
-night Jiave been ^destroyed by an explosion. The 



314 HISTOKICAL lIXKOtR.' 

ground did not here present the advantages enjoyed 
by fort Plaquemine. A firm soil mixed with shells, 
that resisted the pressure of cannon without platforms, 
not yielding to the bombs, dreadful must have been 
the effects of their explosion; for all military men will 
agree that without casemates, no garrison can hold 
out against a regular bombardment. But it may be 
asked, why was no attempt made to dismount the 
enemy's batteries, as soon as they were successively 
erected? It has already been seen, that nothing had 
been neglected to that effect by the garrison, but that 
all their effi>rts were vain. Besides, ^ enemy had 
worked chiefly by night, and it was also during the 
hi^tthat he had mounted his artillery. It has been 
&cen that the parapets of his batteries were from fif- 
teen to eighteen feet thick, of hard sand, as firm as 
any kind of earth; and the inside was formed of sacks 
laid on one another. Could the slightest doubt still 
remain on this subject, I think it would be sufficient 
to remove k, to know that ihe mortars wer^ esta- 
blished as is usual, on the most solid ground. Seven 
pieces of cannon, of which three were nine-pounders, 
three twelves and one twenty-four, were all the garri- 
son had to oppose to the enemy on the side where the 
attack was directed. It may be said' that the gar- 
rison might, during the night, have made sorties, 
have carried the enemy's cannon, and have destroyed 
his works. All this may indeed be effeqted with 
adequate forces; but this garrison's eflfective force 
amounted to no more than three hundred ^nd twen- 
ty men fit for service. It was surely impossible with • 
90 small a force to cross a trench which already com- 



illgTORICAL MSMOXlt. 215 

manded the gate of the f5rt» and ii^rfts guarded by about 
one thousand men, throujgh which our troops inust 
have cut their way, before they could arrive at batte- 
ries well manned, with powerful succours ready to 
re-enforce them. Any attempt ofthatkmd, by a gar- . 
rison of three hundred and twenty men, against an 
army of five thousand, which would within a fewhours 
receive are-enforcement of three thousand men, would 
certainly have been rather a culpable act of folly, than 
a laudable instance of vsUour. The brave garrison of . 
fort Bowyer did, upon the whole, their duty, and all 
' that could have been expected of them under such 
circumstances. Major-general Lambert testified to 
colonel Livingston, then on mission at his head- 
quarters, his warm approbation of the conduct of 
colonel Lawrence, adding, that under similar circum- 
stances, he should not think it derogatory to his ho- 
nour to act as that ofiicer had done. 

On the arrival of colonel Lawrence at New Or- 
leans, it was directed in general orders of March 25th, 
that a court of inquiry should be held for the pur- 
pose of examining into his conduct, during the de- 
fence, and in the /surrender of fort Bowyen The 
court having heard several witnesses, after mature de- 
liberation, declared the conduct of colonel Lawrence, 
and that of the garrison under his command, no way 
reprehensible. (See Appendix, No. 40.) 

I have been more minute in relating the particu- 
lars of this a.&ir, and have the more freely given way 
to my own reflections on it, as in the whole course of 
this glorious campaign, the surrender of fort Bowyer, 
is the only instance in which the efforts of the enemy 



316 nitJQlLlCAh MlXOIIt. 

ofabuiied any advwtage. Whoever ^onsidicin th^ dis- 
proportion q( the forc€8, and the des^perutc situatian 
of the ganiion, teft to itself, beyood the reach of suc^ 
cours; whoever a^s himself the question, whether, 
under such Qtrcum8t«nees,he should have acted differ, 
aidy, must ftQkpowledge tMt the glory acquired in 
this instance, by the troops of his Britannic majesty^ 
amounts to 3 very ino^msidentble advantage. 



The news of the success obtained over the enemy 
on the 8th of January, diffused the greatest joy 
throughout the union, particularly in Kentucky, the 
governor of which state transmitted a message to the 
legislature, recommending to them to vote a levy of 
ten thousand militia, to march to the assistance of 
Louisiana. 

While colonel Livingston was on board the Bri-» 

tish fleet, the Brazen sloop of war, arrived with in* 

telligence of die preliminaries of peace between thp 

United States and Great Britain having been signed. 

On the 10th of February, that officer returned with 

the gladsome tidings, which was received with univer* 

sal joy. 

On this occasion, general Jackson published an 

address to the army and citizens, exhorting them not 

to let themselves be so far led away by the hopes of 

peace founded on vague rumours, as to relax in their 

duty; observing that, even were it certain that peace . 

had been concluded, and the treaty signed in Europe, 

it Could not be considered as putting an end to the- 

war, until ratified by the president of the United 

Stajtes. (See the address in the Appendix!, No. 41.) 



V 

Afttr^fae aifidrof the fidi of Jantiary^ sone Of oui^ 
man iDtHJd tm ilie &cene of actnan, an elegant swwd, 
Kfiiich was at first sizppobed mereljto belong to some 
cAcer; :bttt seme prisonef&ohanoing to see it, deeb- 
rckl k.te be tifie sword of ^neral PaiekeDham, the 
cointtidilder.in-chief In this persuasion we were 
€Mfirff(i«d, foy the silence of tfie British officers tm that 
subji^ct; when general Keane caused application to be 
made tb general Jackson, requesting his sword found* 
oh the field, to be restored to hmi, as he set a fond 
valne on it, being the present of a friend- General 
Jackson accordingly gave the s^v^nordin charge to co- 
lonel Livingston, Ttrbo went with the flag of truce; and 
the colonel in person delivered it ihto the hands -of 
general Keane, who in retem wrototc^eneral Jackson 
the letterof thanks inserted in the Ajipendiic, N0i43. 

In his letter of the 17th of Februftry, to the secre- 
tary of war, general Jackson* takes ncKice of this inci- 
dent, with several others,a3 may b* s*h in the Appen- 
dix, No* 43. 

Notwithstanding the assertion of general Keane, 
there are stiH some individuals inclined to think that 
that sword belonged to the general-in-cbief, from this 
circtimstance, amongst others, that the British- officers 
who happened to be present at the delivery of it to 
general Keane, l^etrayed setne ^urprbe, and appeared 
not to have known that he had lost- his sword; and 
hence they infer that the mystery ill this affair, arose 
from a persuasion that, had it been Wnown to us that 
the sword belonged to the commander*in-chief, it 
would have been retained as a trophy. 

rf 



218 HISTOSICAl MClCOlt. 

About this period, the exchange of prisoners, and 
the claiming of the negroes carried off by fhe British, 
gave rise to a very animated correspondence between 
general Jackson, admiral Cochrane, and general Lam- 
bert. (See these letters in the Appendix, No. 44.) 

On the S4th of February, general Jackson an- 
nounced to the secretary of war, the surreAdecof finrt 
Bowyen (See Appendix, No. 45,) The opinion 
which the general expresses in his letter^ as to 
the conduct of the garrison, was founded on mis* 
information; and he afterwards rendered justice 
to those brave men, as soon as he was correctly 
informed of the circumstances which had obliged 
them to capitulate. It has already l)cen seen, in the 
account of thS second attack on fort Bowyer, that 
a. court martial honourably acquitted colonel Lau- 
rence and the garrison he commanded, declaring their 
conduct irrepn^chable. 

Four hundi)^ prisoners had set out from New 
Orleans for the Balize, agreeably to tl\e arrange- 
ments entered into by admiral Cochrane widi colonel 
Livingston: the remaining prisoners, daily expected 
from Natchez, were to be sent imniediately on their 
arrival. Of this, the general informed general Lam- 
bert, by a letter of the 26th. (See Appendix, No. 46-) 
On the 6th of March, general Jackson informed 
general Lambert, that he had reason to believe tl)at 
the treaty of pe^ce had been ratified by the president 
and senate of tlie United States; but that, owing to 
some mistake Qpmmitted in the postmaster-general's 
office, the packet addressed to him on that subject^ 
had not come to his hands* 



* filSTORtCAl. MEMOIR. 5219 

The British commanders having promised to af- 
ford to the owners of the negroes ,\^lio had followed 
them, every facility towards their prevailing on them 
to return, general Jackson made known to general 
Lambert, on the 7th of March, that he had given per- 
mission to a certain number of the owners of those 
negroes, to go to the British fleet with a flag of truce; 
and his letter concludes with a request to the British 
general, to restore fte negroes. (See Appendix, 
No. 47.) 

. On the 8th of March, general orders were pub- 
lishedy discharging the levy in mass, from all further 
service. (See Appendix, No. 48.) . 

At length general Jackson receifed the official 
confirmation of the ratification of the treaty of peace, 
and immediately cominunicated the intelligence to 
the commander of the British forces, by a letter of 
the 13th of March, which he transmitted by major 
Woodruff of the 3d regiment of infantry, who was 
appointed to receive the restitution of fort Bowyer, 
and such other posts and property of the United 
States, as might be in the possession of the British. 
(See that letter and major Woodruff^s instructions in 
the Appendix, No. 49.) 

In general orders^of the same day, the command- 
er-in-chief announced to the army, the ratification of 
the treaty of peace, revoking the general orders rela- 
tive to martial law, ordering a final cessation of hos- 
tilities against Great Britain, and proclaiming a gene- 
ral pardon for all military offences, and the enlargement* 
of all persons confined for tht same.r (See Appendix, 
No. 50.) 



2!20 Risto^lbAt MEtfoitt. 

' . * 

By gcncml orders of the Ibltowiiig day, aft the 
militia sent by the (fiflferent s^tes to the as^stanee of 
Louisiana, as a^ the militia of this latter state, were 
discharged. (See Apjpetidi:^, No. 51.) 

The treaty of peace concluded at Ghent, on the 
14th of December, between the pltnipctentiaries of 
the Unit^ States and thoae of Oreat Britain, is insett- 
ed at large in the Appendix, No. 52. It& construction 
having been a suhject.of discussion betwe^ genefid 
Jackson and the British commander-in-chief, I have 
thought that its insetlidn here Wotxld not be consider- 
ed out of place. 

I have likewise deemed proper to insert an ad- 
dress presented to general Jackson, by the dlfiferent 
volunteer comparaes composmg Plauch^'s battalion, 
with the general's answer. The sentiments express- 
ed in these documents do honourto those from wh6m 
they proceed. The address was presented to the 
general, immediately after a review which took place 
on the 16th of March on the lities. About to bid 
farewell to his brethren in arms, he wished once 
more to behold those brave men drawn up on the 
very ground that had sO often been witness of their 
valour, and of the patience with which they en- 
dured extreme hardship. The time, the place, the 
crowd of spectators, all consphtfd to present an in- 
teresting spectacle, and to awaken aflfecting recol- 
lections. On that very ground where; two months 
before, those brave troops had given such signal 
proofs of courage and of love for their country, they • 
were now assembled to bid farewell to one another, 
and seal with assurances of lasting attachment a 
friendship contracted in the midst of alarms. General 



RXSV^ftlCAL M£ICaiB. 221 

Oanaes^ who was Jibmit to assume the immediate com- 
mand of that part of the district, comtnanded the eto- 
lutionsy which \vere executed by the 3dv the Tth, and 
the 44th regiments of infantry, and by majorPlauche's 
battalion of volunteers. (See Appendix, No. 53.) 

General Jackson wrote to the secretary of war, ac- 
knowledging the rece^ of his letter of the 16th of 
the preceding moiith, by which he bad announced to 
him the ratification of the preliminiu*ies of peace, and 
iiifortaiiiig the secretary that he had discharged all the 
militia. (See the general's letter in the Appendix, 
No. 54.) 

Major WoodruiF having returned from the ftiis- 
sion on which he had been sent to the commander of 
the British forces, made his report to general Jack- 
son, which will be found in the Appendix, No. 55. 
It appeairs firom that report, that, as to the long agi- 
tated question of slaves, the British constantly refused 
to consider them as personal property, and seemed 
inclined to leave them at their own ^sposal. Hence 
it follows^ that they took upon themselves to give 
them their freedom. Surely such maxims can find 
no support in the law of nations. It is evident from 
the rq>ort, that general Lambert refused to execute 
that part of the treaty of peace entered into by the 
two nations, which extended to the restitution of 
slaves, under the general description of property. 
He pretended to construe it otherwise, but how could 
a British commander-in-chief take upon himself to 
explainaway the plain and obviousmeaniugof a solemn 
treaty? 

The truth is, that though a portion of die negroes 
carried off^ enjoy among^ tbt British a condition 



222 HISTOKICAL MSMOIR.. 

nearly equivalent to freedom, yet it is well known 
that a great nnmber of them were prevailed upon to 
enlist in their black regiments, and a still greater 
number were sent to the island of Trinidad and New 
Providence. Though the importation of foreign ne- 
groes into Jamaica is prohibited, yet it is notorious 
that they are imported thither clandestinely; and it has 
been asserted, not without some appearance of foun- 
dation, that numbers of the negroes, carried off from 
Georgia and Louisiana, found their way to that island 
through the means of fraudulcnl practices. 

In his letter of the 18th general Lambert uses 
this pitiful subterfuge — that he considers the negroes 
either as deserters, having come over of their own 
accord, or as properly taken and carried off in the 
course of the war. 

He observes that he cannot abandon to the seve- 
rity of their masters, slaves who had come over to 
the army during the existence of hostilities, and had 
thus become criminal in the eye of the law of the 
country. (See that letter in the Appendix, No. 56.) 

This pretext is the more specious, as it appears 
to be founded on a humane and generous principle. 
But the reader must know that general Jackson 
had obtained from the masters of the slaves their 
word of honour, that they would grant them a full 
and entire pardon; and that the known honour of 
those planters leaving him no room to doubt of the 
strict performance of their promise^ he. had pledged 
himself to general Lambert that the slaves should suf- 
fer no manner of ill treatment on their return. 

The importance of the services rendered to the 
union by the army under the command of major.ge- 



HISTORICAL MEMOIS. 223 

neral Jackson, in Louisiana, was duly appreciated by 
the whole people of the United States, and the suc- 
cesses obtained at New Orleans were celebrated with 
public rejoicings in every town. The spirit of the 
mtion exulted in the glorious achievement of her xle- 
fenders. The newspapers were, for some inonths, 
filled with addresses presented, and speeches deliver- 
ed on the occasion. The legislatures of most of the 
states voted their thanks to general Jackson^ and the 
army under his command, for the service they had 
rendered to the union. Those votes have appear- 
ed in so' many of the public prints, that it is not 
necessary to annex them to this work. But t have 
thought proper to insert in the Appendix some reso- 
lutions of congress, relative to the campaign of Loui- 
siana, as being the collective expression of the senti- 
ments of the several states. (See Appendix, No. 57.) 

In one of these resolutions, the congress tenders 
its thanks to the army and its general, and requests 
the president to cause a medal to be struck, orna- 
mented with suitable devices, commemorative of the 
victories over the English, in Louisiana, and to pre- 
sent it to general Jackson. 

If ever, at any important period, the representa« 
tives of the people were faithful interpreters of the 
public feeling, it was at this moment. The nation 
had already appreciated the services of its defenders, 
and had distinctly expressed its sentiments; the con- 
gress did nothing more than give them body and 
shape, and convey them to posterity in an authentic 
and permanent fonn* 



224 HiSTORrcAL ir£ifOiR« 

These TKolutions were CHnmnoicated to the 
army, and received by iite diferent carps with the 
most lively emotions of jay and gratitude. These 
brave men were about to return to their fire-sides and 
the objects of their afiection. They bore with tliem 
a convic^on highly flatterhig to freenien-^^faat of 
having contributed to strengthai the independence 
of their coontry, to procure for it an honoiuable 
pcace^ and to establish hs military giory on an im{M3*- 
ishable basis:-^^hey had i^rpassed the expectations 
€kf the nation, and tliisday received its thanks through 
its representmives:-**they ooukl desire nothing mote^ 

I have abote remarked that immediately i^r the 
' depsoture of the English troops from the shores of the 
Mississippi, a body of Kentu&ky militia was encamped 
on the plantation of Dupre, and the remainder on the 
right, bank of the river. Those £nom Tennessee, un- 
der the orders of generals Cdrrol and .Coffee, resum- 
ed their former encampment, on the ptaotsliion of 
Avart. The conunanding genecal had thus wisely 
disposed them, that m case of need .he might easily 
transfer them to such points of. the coast as the ooe* 
my should invade. The trocqw occupied those posts 
until the disbanding of the army, which took place, 
as we have seen above, when general Jackson receiv- 
ed the ratification of the treaty of peace by our go- 
vemmenfe they then took up the Ibe of march for 
their respective states. The loss they had sustuned 
during the campaign was very inconsiderable; and we 
should thankprovidence that ourtriumphswereachiev. 
ed, at the exj)ense of so small a portion of the usual 
afflictions of war: yet, these undaunted soldiers, who 



aiSTORtCAL MEMOIR. 225 

were able to overwhelm the enemy with so destruc* 
tive a fire, and to bear the incessant fatigues of the 
campaign^ were obliged to pay a severe tribute to the 
climate of Louisiana. The hardships they were obli- 
ged to undergo, in the duties of a camp, within Jack- 
son's lines, added to the unhealthineas of a constant* 
ly wet soil, caused them to contract pernicious fevers 
and dysenteries, which soon became epidemical. The 
efiect of these disorders were speedily seen and ter- 
ribly felt:— in the space of one month five hundred 
men perished in this way! Let us drop a tear to' the 
memory jof these noble fellows! May their virtues 
ever live in our memory. They lived long enough 
to glory and their country, which, they freed from its 
enemies; but they did not live long enough to receive 
the recompense of their toils, to enjoy, in the midst 
of domestic enjoyments, that felicity, which they had 
secured to others, and had thus acquired a right to 
expect for themselves. 

After the capitulation of fort Bowyer, the English 
army preserved its encampments on Dauphine i^nd 
and at Mobile point. General Lambert and admiral 
Cochrane, waiting an official communication of the 
ratification of the treaty of peace, by the president 
of the United States, made the necessary preparations 
for the embarkation of their troops:— but, the ex- 
, change of prisoners, and the difficulty of procuring a 
sufficiency of water, for a long voyage, occupied much 
time, and rendered the embarkation tedious and pain- 
ful* Want of provisions obliged the conrimissaries of 
the English army to purchase them at New Orlctas,^ 
where they were obliged to put them in boats, Y/¥lMi 



296 JIlSTOIlICAL liCMOIR. 

canied tfaem to the fleet, where they ivcre distiibti- 
4ed aai(Migthe tnmssports. 

These diapositknis occu{iied much tinic» during 
which the mortalk}' among their troops, and cspc-» 
ciaUf the black regiments was very gtcat. Tlie 
Dttinbarof sick and wounded in the fleet is esdmsMd 
at two thousand; but It is impossible to ascertain 
correctly 4he number of the victims of disea»e^ from 
tiie 19th of January until the «id of March, die time 
of «yac€iation by the army. Judging from die num- 
ber x>f graves around ifaeir camps, it Gcrtainly was 
considerable. We cannot but regret the lot of these 
ttafbrtunale victims of the ambition of the British 
govemmeot. Those poor creatures, whose bodies 
ve entombed on tbe shores of Louisiana, were but 
passive instruments which were broken in tbe hands 
pi those who used them. They died in a foreign 
land, but they have» doubtless, left somewhere friends 
and relations to whom they were dear; and who wiU 
a^Fer have even the sad coosolation of sAiedding a 
ttoumf ul tear on their graves. 

During the stay of the English prisoners at New 
Orleans, a fact occurred, which I shall detail circum- 
standally, in wder to counteract the effect of any 
statement that may be made, unfavourable to the 
Americaii nation. Genend Jadcson, presuming that, 
after tbek departure from the waters of the Missis- 
sippi, the English would attempt to cany Mobile, 
and establish themselves on the Dauphine and Ship 
iahmds, made the proper dispositions to repel diem. 
Among other measures to this end, he authorized 
gRM^ Humbert to form a legi<»), and permiUed him 



to enrol in it aU thc^ English deserters who went wil- 
ling to enter the service. Prudence requiring that 
they should be carefully watched, it became nccessa* 
rjy for want of a proper place^ to confine scvne of Aem 
among the prisonj^rs of war* When the kera of 
Cestkbar issued a proclamation, addresaed princi* 
pall^ to the Irish, inviting the deserters to enter his 
legioii, some priauoners of that nation req^uested to 
be also admitted; and unfortunately » the officer charge 
ed with the recruiting service, frpm ignorance or 
mistake enlisted some of them. General Jackson, aa 
soon as thia circumstance was made knpwn to him^ 
ordered that the prisoners should be remitted to 
prisoao^ with thdr companions, and wlien an exchange; 
took |dace,tbey were, to dieir great regret, deiiyeredf 
up with the others. Fearing, hpwever, lest these 
men, on their arrival, should be severely puaashedv 
general Jackson interceded in their behalf, with ge» 
neral Lambert, (see Appendix, No. 58,) who aiw 
swered, that in respect to him, die conduet of tlH>se 
prisoners should not be noticed in any manner. (See 
his letter, dated February 27, Aj^iendix^ Na 44«> 

The legislature of Louisiana passed a resolution 
expressive of their sense of the good conduct of cer* 
tain individuals, as well as of the patriotic zeal di8<> 
played by the citizens of certain parts of the state, at 
the time of invasion by the enemy. (See Appendbc, 
No. $9.) This article needs no comment. It is suf* 
ficient for me to reconMuend it to the attention of 
the reader, who will here have occasion to remark 
what I have, in the course <£ thb work, had the plea- 
sure of amiouncing-«4haft, at this memoraUe crisis. 



228 HISTORICAL UEkOIR. 

all the inhabitants of Lpuisiana, without distinction 
of birth, colour, age, or sex, vied in zeal for the scr- 
vice of their country, and strained every nerve to re- 
pulse the enemy. I pass no encomium on the con- 
duct of the people of this state, while the enemy oc- 
cupied a portion of tliey* territory. I am convinced 
that they attach to their actions no merit but that of 
doing their duty; and that the satisfisiction they deriv- 
ed from this source was ai^ ample reward; but these 
citizens have been calumniated; they were consider- 
ed, for a long time, as suspicious members of the 
American 'family, and as persons who could not be 
rdied on; disposed, in fact, to receive, if not with 
joy, at least with indiflierence, such other form of go- 
vernment as the fate of war, or the train of political 
events might subject them to. It was not by words, 
that those meritorious citizens vindicated their cha- 
racter; but by the best proofs of devotion to their 
country, by defending it faithfully, and by valiant- 
ly repelling tlie invading enemy. Their conduct 
^oughout this campaign is the most emphatic re- 
futation of the unjust charges df their calumniators. 

Mention is made, in this resolution, of the assist- 
ance received from the council of the city of Orleans, 
by those families, whose principals, being employed 
in the service of their country could not minister 
to their wants. I shall merely add, that more than 
thirty-four thousand rations of bread, and nearly 
thirteen thousand of meat, were distributed, to the 
most necessitous, in the space of about a month. 

The artillery and engineering service received 
very important assistance from the officers of the 



HISTORICAL ItEMOIH. 2S29 

mayoralty. I have frequently witnessed their zeal 
in availing themselves of immediate resources, and 
even creating new ones, to hasten the transportation 
of materials, munitions, arid provisions. 

I must be permitted to a^d to the enumeration 
of acts of zeal and devotion, noticed in this resolu- 
tion, an example of patriotism, worthy to be com- 
pared with the most brilliant instances of the same 
kind recorded in ancient histories. Madame De- 
vance Bienvenu, a respectable widow, and rich inha- 
bitant bf Atakapas, after sending her four sons to the 
defence of their country, in captain Dubuclay's com- 
pany of dragoons, wrote to governor Claiborne, that 
she sincerely regretted having no other sons to offer 
to her country, but that, if her own services, in the 
duty of taking care of the wounded, should be thought 
useful, notwithstanding her advanced age, and the 
great distance of her residence, she would hasten to 
New Orleans for that purpose. 

General Jackson, in his correspondence with the 
secretary at war, did not fail to notice the conduct of 
' the " corsairs of Barataria/' who were, as we have, 
already seen, employed in the artillery service. In 
the course of the campaign they proved, in an une- 
quivocal manner, that they had been misjudged by 
the enemy, who, a short time previous to the invasion 
of Louisiana had hoped to enlist them in his* cause. 
Many of them werf killed or wounded in defence 
of the country. Their zeal, their courage, and their 
skill, were remarked by the* whole army, who could 
no longer consider such brave men as criminals, or 
avoid wishing their permanent retujm to duty and the 



230 Hl^JORlCAL MEMOIR. 

&yQur of the government. These favourable sienti- 
^ ments were expressed by the legislature of the slate, 
in a memorial to the president^ and general Jackson 
added his and those of the army* The chief magijti^ 
trate of our govemmesit yielded to these interces- 
sions, and issued a proclamation, t^ which he granted 
a full aad comfdete paidon to all those who, having 
formerly violated the laws of the United States, l^ 
smuggling at Barataria, had aided, during the cam- 
paign, in repulsing the ^nemy, and should produce 
a certificate, to this effect, from the governor of Loui* 
aiana. He likewise ordered a suspension of all ^o^ 
ceedings against their persons and property, as well as 
therestitutionof whatevermighthave been sequestrat- 
ed. This proclamation, written in a noble and dignified 
style, is fraught with the true principles of philan- 
thropy: a perusal of it cannot fail to afford pleasure. 
(It will be found in the Appendix, No. 60.) 

On the 23d of December, 1814, when the ene- 
my approached the hanks of the Missis^ppi, near 
the plantation of major^genenl Vfflerg, after having 
takw prisoners the men lei^io composed the detach- 
ment sent to the village of the Catalans, major ViUeri, 
his son, of the third regiment of Louisiana militia, had 
the immediate comarand of the post, formed at his 
father's plantation; and it was he who sent the de- 
tachment to the village^ two days previous to the 
arrival of the emmy. Although it is to be regretted, 
that he had not placed some intermediate posts be- 
tween this village and the Mississifqia, which might 
have discovered the enemy> and given notice of his* 
approach, by the discharge of small arms or rockets, 



0ZStOtICAt M£MOI&. 231 

we must| ill jiistioe to major ViHeri affirm, that he 
does not deserve the reproaches inserted by some 
malignant or inconsiderate persons, in the different 
gazettes of the union. In his ccHrespondence with 
the secretary at war, general Jackson has ix>me tes« 
timony to the gooB conduct of this officer, and the 
legislature, in the resolution, inserted in the Appen- 
dix, Now 59, notices the presence of mind, the ad- 
dress, and the courage, which he displayed in escap« 
ing the enemy, in a manner, almost miraculous, and 
returned to give intelligence of their approach. The 
decision of the court-martial held to examine the con- 
duct of major Villerg, who produced, however, no 
testimony in his own &vour, will be found in the 
Appendix, No. 61* 

If it were not presumptuous to form a conjecture 
as to the unfortunate circumstance of the arrival of the 
enemy on the shores of the Mississippi, unperceived 
by us, I should be inclined to attribute it to the capture 
of our gun-boats, by which we were deprived of the 
means of following his movements, and observing the 
point to which his attack was dkected. If, as I have 
before remariced, in the narration of this affiur, the 
number of our vessels on the lakes had been propor- 
tionedto &e extent of ctast we had to defend, the com- 
mander of the station, commodore Patterson, possess- 
ing an accurate knowledge of local circumstances, 
could have so disposed Uiem, as to give timely notice 
of the approach of the enemy. 
' The momentary success of the English, on the 
8th of January, on the right bank of the river, requir- 
ed an examination of the conduct of many officers of 



232 HiStORICAL HEItOIS. 

the Louisiana and of the Kentucky militia under the 
command of colonel Davis. In my narrative of the 
events of that day, I have endeavoured to remove 
unfavourable impressions, as to these troops, as well 
as to free the Kentuckians from the charges advanc- 
ed against them, I take the liberty of saying, with 
unjustifiable precipitation. If a shadow of doubt 
remain in the mind of the reader, on this subject, the 
decision of the court of inquiry, will, I think, re- 
move it entirely. (See Appendix, No. 62.) 

By order of commodore Patterson, a court of in- 
quiry was convened at New Orleans, for the purpose 
of hearing several testimonies relative to the conduct 
of lieutenant Jones, comnianding the division of gun- 
boats, captured on the 14th December, by a flotilla 
of English barges. The report of this courtj con- 
taining minute details of the conduct of the officers, 
and of the crews of the gun-boats, as well as an ac- 
count of the manner in which the attack was made, 
cannot fail to interest tlie reader. (See Appendix, 
No. 63.) 

So many varibus estimates have been made of , 
the force of the British army which came to Louisi- 
ana, that it would be very difficult to ascertain which 
is the most correct; I have^ however, procured a 
very circumstantial one, including the names of the 
different corps with those of their commanders, and 
the amount of their respective force, which I have 
inserted in the Appendix, No. 64, 

This document is supported by a letter from Dr. 
Morrell of the navy, who, having been detained 
several weeks on board the British fleet, had many 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 



233 



opportunities to converse with British officers, on 
the subject of the force of their army. The circum- 
stances related by Dr. Morrell cannot fail to be intei- 
resting to my readers. 

Under the same number of the Appendix will 
also be found a list of the officers, composing the 
staff of the British army at the time of its landing. 

Arrived at the dose of my narration of the impoit. 
ant events of the memorable campaign in Louisiana^ 
I consider myself bound, as a faithful historian, to in- 
sert the official reports of the commanders of the 
British fleet and army relative to the operations o£ 
the forces confided to their charge. These will be 
found at length and in the order of their dates, in the 
Appendix, No. 66. 

No. 1 of these documents is a despatch of admiral 
Cochrane, addressed to the board of admiralty, in 
England, dated on board the Armide, off the Isle au 
Chat, 16th December, 1814, and accompanied by 
a report of captain Lockyer, relative to the capture 
of our gun-boats, off Isle aux Malheureux, on the 
14th of the same month. No. 2 is a report of major- 
general Keane, addressed to the commanding gene- 
ral Packenham, dated 26th December, in which he 
mentions the disembarkation of his tropps and their 
arrival on the banks of the Mississippi: it contains also 
an account of the affair of the 23d December al night. 
No. 3 is an extract of a journal kept by major For-, 
rest, in the quarter-master-general's department, giv- 
ing a succinct account of all the transactions, from the 
arrival of general Packenham, on the banks of the Mis- 
sissippi, on the 25th of December 1814, until the 31st 

Hh 



234 HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 

of the same monih. No. 4 is a letter from major-ge- 
neral Lambert, addressed to lord Bathurst, secretary* 
of state of his Britannic majesty , dated lOth January, 
1815, giving an account of the operations of the En- 
glish army up to this period, and particularly of the 
unfortunate result of their attack on our line on the 8th 
of January. No. 5 contains a report of colonel Thorn- 
ton, commanding the expedition.on the right bank 
of the river, dated January 8, and addressed to gene- 
ral Packenham (now dead) detailing the operations of 
the troops confided to his charge, on that side. No. 
6 is a despatch of admiral Cochrane, dated 18 th Jan- 
uary 1815, addressed to the admiralty office, relating 
principally to the service of the marines and sailors 
up to this date. No. 7 is a despatch of general Lam- 
bert, dated 28th January 1815, addressed to lord 
Bathurst, in which he sets forth the events posterior to 
the 10th January; and No. 8 is another despatch 
from the same officer to the same minister, dated 
head-quarters, Isle Dauphine, 14th February 1815, 
Containing an account of the capture of fort Bowyer 
on Mobile point. 

The same impartiality which induces me to in- 
sert these official reiK)rts demands some observa- 
tions on the facts and circumstances comprised in 
them. I sh:Ul follow the order in which I have placed 
them. 

In No. 1, admiral Cochrane, giving an account rf 
the capture of the gun-boats, vaunts the valour and 
skill of his force, and augments, according to custom^ 
the difficulties surmounted. To establish a fair scale 
9f comparison between the attack and the defence^ 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 23S 

and to appreciate justly the respective merits of the 
conquerors and the conquered, it will be sufficient, 
in my .opinion, to compare the disproportion of our 
forces with the strength of the enemy. 

Five gun-boats, some of which wc*e planted in 
the mud, and, of course, unable from this circum- 
stance, in addition to that of a strong current, to 
change their position, defended by one hundred and 
eighty-two men, were attacked by forty-two barges 
and lanches, some of which were as large as our 
gun-boats, (one of those, which was sunk, carrying 
one hundred and eighty men,) and three gigs; — ^tbe 
whole having a complement of twelve hundred men! 
•^Notwithstanding this monstrous disparity of force, 
the Americans defended themselves for an hour and 
a half, and did not strike their flag until they had 
destroyed more than a third of the force of the ene- 
my, who now occupied the decks of these same ves- 
sels, where the victory had been disputed, blow for 
blow« Such is the plain fact, which the English ad- 
miral endeavours to involve in useless details, in or^ 
der to divert the attention from the principal point. 
He says also that his barges advanced to the attack 
with the greatest resolution, in defiance of our ves- 
sels, which he calls formidc^le^ having the advantage 
of a chosen position J &c. Unfortunately for sir Alex- 
ander, captain Lockyer, who commanded, and was 
wounded in this attack, and who, consequently, must 
have been better acquainted with all that passed, ex- 
presses himself thus, in his letter, above mentioned: ' 
" Fortunately^ for. the EnglishflotiUa^ the windfaiUng 
(thg American vessels^ J after a chase of thirty^six 



236 HISTORICAL MEKOIli. 

haurs^ they were obliged to come to off Isle St. Jo" 
seph.^^ In another part of the same letter he accords 
perfectly with the report of captain Jones, as, to the 
velocity of the current. 

The admiral acknowledges that the victory cost 
them dear; and when we consider the price, we rea- 
dily pardon some little inaccuracies. He was doubt* 
less, too much occupied with his preparations for 
the establishment, at Orleans, of his judges, custom- 
house officers, and others brought over for the pur- 
pose of extending the blessings oi r^ular government 
to recolonized Louisiana; or in preparatory arrange- 
ments for the transportation of all the cotton and su* 
gar which he 'expected in a few minutes to possess, 
to give to his despatch the attention one would sup- 
pose it required. I shall make but one more remark 
on this report. The American sloop represented as 
carrying one six-pounder and two twelve-pound car- 
ronades, and twenty men, had only one four-pounder 
and eight men; and it is a fact, that this boat, which 
we should suppose, according to the reports of these 
gentlemen, to be of a size capable of defending lier- 
self against an imposing force, was built five years 
previous, in the navy-yard> at New Orleans, to serve 
as a gig, for commodore Porter, then commanding 
on that station, who caused her to be transported, on 
a wagon, to bayou St. John, a distance of two miles, 
where she was used for short excursions on the 
lakes. 

Captain Lockyer has also made a mistake in his 
account of the captured gun-boats. He estimates 
the men at two hundred and forty-five, whereas tiieir 



HISTORICAL MEKOIR. 237 

number was really but one hundred and eighty-two 
effective men — that is to bay, the English force was 
to ours rather more than six to one. 

No. 2 is the report of general Keane, after the 
affair of the 23d of December. It is worthy of re- 
mark, that this paper is dated the 26th, three days af- 
the battle. The general had then, at least, two whole 
days to collect positive facts, and consequently, time 
to prepare an accurate report. Let us see how far 
he has made his conformable to truth. He says, 

" fVhen the men, much fatigued by the length of 
time they had been in the boats^ were asleep in their 
bivauacj a heavy flanking fire of round and grape-shot 
was opened upon them, by a large schooner and two 
gun-vessels J which had dropped dawn, the river from 
the town, and anchored abreast our firesy £s?c." As to 
the schooner, the general is literally correct. The 
fire was very lively, and well kept up. Commodore 
Patterson, who was on board, and captain Henley, 
who commanded the vessel, with his brave crew, 
knew too well what was due to such distinguished 
guests, to fell in paying them due honours; I hope 
they do not complain of this— if they do, they are 
certainly much to blame; for, before colonel Thorn- 
ton had made those judicious dispositions^ of which the 
report speaks, to place his brigade in safety behind 
the levee, more than one hundred of his men were 
killed or wounded by the fire of the Carolina. But 
what were those gun- vessels of which general Keane 
speaks? whence came tliey, and who saw them? 
There were, it is true, at that time on the waters of 
the Mis^ssippi, a great many very large floating trees^ 



238 HISTORICAL VEMOI&. 

its surface was sometimes covered with them, and 
I can find no other cause for this mistake of the gene- 
ral, than in some of those drifted logs, which, in the 
darkness of the night, he may have taken for ves- 
sels! This is not absolutely impossible; — but the 
gun- vessels that fired in company with the schooner! 
*— it is indeed too much. The reader must be struck 
with the similarity that there is between this little 
affiur and the celebrated battle of the kegs at PhiladeU 
phia during the revolutionar}' war! If general Keane's 
optic nerves w^re so affiscted on this memorable 
night of the attack of the schooner and two gun-baaUf 
the reader may well expect to find his sense of hear- 
ing more acute, for it is said that nature always turns 
the loss of one sense to the profit of the others. It ^- 
pears, however, from the report of the general, that 
he was, at this time, as unfortunate in his hearing, as 
we have just shown him to have been in his sight. 
He says, that, ^^the enemy ^favoured by the darkness of 
the nighty concealed themselves under a high fence ^ and 
calling to his men^ under the pretence of being apart of 
their ownforccy offered to assist them in getting avery'^^ 
tec. The general or some of his officers, certainly 
dreamt this; for I can affirm that no such thing oc- 
curred. The only circumstance which bore the 
least particle of resemblance to this romance, is that 
which I am about to relate* I leave the reader to 
trace the similitude, and draw his inference. 

It has been seen, in the narration of the affair of 
the asd December, that colonel Piatt, quarter-master- 
general, advanced at the head of a detachment of the 
7th regiment, towards the enemy, for the purpose of 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR* 23d 

reconnoitring and repulsing him.'-— On reaching the 
boundary lines of Laronde's and Lacoste's plantations, 
the detachment was saluted by a discharge of mus« 
ketry, from an advanced-guard of the enemy, which 
had not yet been discovered, although at a very short 
distance; this was owing to the soldiers being placed 
behind the fence, along both sides of the road, with 
one knee on the ground, and in this position they 
fired. The colonel advanced towards them, at a full 
gallop, and called to them to turn out and fight like 
brave men, instead of firing crouched on the ground 
like cowardly Indians. This is the only occurrence 
which has any relation to a fence. If this be the 
origin of the story given us by the general, he de- 
serves great credit, for his admirable talent in dress- 
ing up a report. — But let us proceed. The general 
places under the head of simple casualty^ the loss 
which he sustained from the fire of the schooner, and 
which ^ve know positively to have been more than 
one hundred men. After supposing that the 85th regi- 
ment advanced in consequence of a pretended ruse de 
guerre on our part, he found himself, says the report, 
** surrounded by a superior number of the enemy ^ who 
ordered fum to surrender'*'^ — *• the answer ^'^ continues 
he, ** was an instantaneous attack. A more extraordi- 
nary conflict has^ perhaps^ never occurred; absolutely 
hand to handy both officers and men.^* This " superior 
number of the enemy ^^^ was simply captain Beale's 
company of volunteer riflemen, amounting in all to six- 
ty-two; they penetrated, as I have before mentioned, 
into the midsi ol the enemy's camp, without a bayo- 
net, and nevertheless, disarmed and took prisoners 



240 HISTOIICAL MEMOIA. 

a considerable number of his men. This took place 
within the enclosure of Lacoste's plantation, near the 
bouses. I also refer the reader to my narrative of 
this affair to correct the mistake, which makes half of 
the company fall into the hands of the enemy, and 
which the general would fain attribute to the bravery 
of his 85th regiment. 

In another part of the same report, general Keane 
makes his 93d regiment advance to charge with the 
bayonet, keeping the 4th ** as his reserve.^'* Here 
there is only one single mistake, that of taking 
an American for a British corps; it certainly was 
Plauche's battalion, instead of his 93d regiment, of 
which the general meant to speak; for as soon as, 
throughout this part of our line, that is to say, from 
the left of our right division, which was directly in 
front of the centre, of which general Keane speaks, 
the general shout ^^ ala baytmnette*'* was g^ven, this 
famous centre^ after making a single discharge of 
musketry, gave way precipitately. The general may 
have heard the word " bayonet^'^ and supposed it pro- 
ceeded from his own mouth! Let us pass over this 
mistake. I must, however, remark, that general 
Keane's watch was probably regulated for another 
meridian than that of Louisiana, since it was only 
half past eight o'clock, when this took place, and the 
report says it happened at half past ten. But the 
general proceeds: " The enemy now determined to 
make a last effort^ and collecting the whole ofhisforce^ 
formed an extensive line^ and maved^^^ &c. " The 
line drove in all advanced posts^^^ &c. 



HISTOEICAL MEMOIR. 241 

Who would not suppose, from the preceding sen- 
tence, thaf our little band had made a desperate and 
general attack! The report certainly conveys this idea, 
but it is very wide from the truth. The enemy retired 
before our right, and the firing had ceased on both 
sides, when general Coffee, who commanded the left 
division, advanced and drove them before him. I re- 
fer the reader again to my narrative of this affair, and 
to the Atlas, (plate No. 6.) I would have too much to 
do if I were obliged to correct all the errors in point 
of fact, and all the perversions of circumstances, con- 
tained in general Keane's report. I shall content my- 
self with remarking, that lie states our force at five 
thousand men, whereas it consisted gf but nineteen 
hundred effective; and that the engagement terminat- 
ed, not at half past twelve, as he pretends, but at half 
past nhie. The remainder of the report consists of 
eulogies on the officers who distinguished themselves 
in this affair. I do not pretend to say that they have 
not merited this distinction, but I venture to affirm, 
that if the reports of general Keane are correcdy made 
up from those handed him by the different com- 
manders of corps, these gentlemen must have been 
under great agitation during the engagement, to com- 
mit such gross blunders. They had better have ho- 
nestly confessed that they were unprepared for the 
scene, and that the firmness and pronq>titude of oilr 
attack astonished and disconcerted them. But it be- 
longs only to superior minds to make such acknow- 
ledgments, and besides, an official report, composed 
of such materials, would npt have the desired effect^ 

I i 



24Si HX8T0KICAL HEUOIft. 

and coald not have been submitted to the inaction 
of the most thinking people of £jigland, ai^ one of 
their writers aflfects to call them. 

No. 3 contains an extract from major Forrest's 
journal, beforementioned. Thb extract dates the 
loss of the schooner Carolina on the 26th, whereas 
she blew up on the 27tb: and again, the first attack 
on our line, said to have taken place on the 27tb» was 
made on the 28th. The report of this hst day is 
^ven in a very succinct form. I request the reader 
to compare it with my account. That of the 1st Jan- 
uary, 1815, is equally concise, and makes no mention 
of the effect of our artillery upon the enemy's bat* 
teries, nor of the number of men destroyed by our 
fire. As to the rest, this journal breathes a tone of 
moderation honourable to its author; if it does not 
contain the whole truth, it at least contains no direct 
assertions in opposition to it. 

No. 4 contains a despatch of major-general Lam- 
bert, on whom devolved the command of the British 
army, after the death of general Packenham, as being 
the next, in rank, generals Gibbs and Keane having 
been carried oft' the field of battle, severely wounded, 
on the 8th of January. General Lambert assumed 
the command at a critical moment, and under very 
unfavourable auspices, and I doubt not, under cir- 
cumstances very painful to his feelings. He had a 
melancholy duty to perform, in announcing the re- 
sult of the attack of the 8th January. His was the 
painful task to render an account of a complete de- 
feat, to a minister of his government, to a member of 
the same cabinet who, with the sang froid of po- 



HISTORICAL M£MOIE» 243 

liticians, had prepared this formidable armament, 
whose success had not even been questioned and who, 
instead of the recital of a brilliant victory, aimounced 
in anticipation, in their gazettes, as a certain event, 
to express a doubt of which would have been an in- 
sult to the English nation, and of which, they baid 
they awaited only the particulars-^this general was 
obliged to detail a disaster the most complete, and a 
reverse the most poignant that the British arms had 
ever sustained in the new hemisphere. This task, 
it must be confessed, was hard to perform, especially 
as to the recital of an attack which had miscarried 
so entirely, though made by numerous and experi- 
enced troops, this officer must necessarily subjoin 
the enormous loss of his nation, in officers and men. 
It is well known that general Lambert felt and un- 
derstood all that was disagreeable and embarrassing 
in his situation, much better than he expressed it; 
but upon the whole, he gives a correct account of the 
localities and die respective positions of the troops. 

Our triumph was so distinguished, that I cannot, 
in honour, indulge in any reflections on this report. 
If general Lambert does not give all the details of 
an affiiir so disastrous to his army, if he passes slight- 
ly over many circumstances of this memorable day, 
the body of facts that he does present, is neverthe- 
less generally correct. I shall take the liberty, how- 
ever, of rectifying two mistakes in his report. The 
first is, where he mentions the death of the com- 
mander-in-chief, getkeral Packenham. It was not 
this officer, but brigade-major Wilkinson who fell, 
#n the glacis of our line. The former was killed by 



244 "klSTORICAL MEMOIR. 

gfrape-shot, from the twelve pounder in battery No. 
8, while in the act of encouraging the troops, at the 
point marked in the plan of the affair of the 8th Ja- 
nuary. (See Atlas, plate 7.) 

The second and more important error, is in the 
passage, where general Lambert says. — " As they 
(the British troops,) advanced^ a continued and most 
galling fire was opened from every part of the line,^* 
&c. In my plan of this affair, I have distinguished^ 
by lines, and I venture to say, with the greatest ex- 
actness, both the extent and the direction of our fire. 
The battalions of Plauch6, Daquin, Lacoste, with 
three-fourths of tlie 44th regiment, that is to say, our 
whole centre, did not fire a single shot! Two com- 
panies of this last corps had fired two or three rounds, 
when the officers, observing that their shot did not 
reach the enemy, ordered them to cease firing. The 
majority of the troops under general Coffee did not 
fire at all, so that but one-half of our line was engag- 
ed. This is a fact for the truth of which I appeal 
to the individual testimony of every man in our army, 
and even to all those of the enemy who have can- 
dour enough to acknowledge an unpleasant truth. 

In my account of the affair of the 8th January, 
which I beg the reader to compare with the report 
of general Lambert, I have forgotten to mention a 
circumstance that reflects the highest honour on our 
troops. I shall insert it here; and it cantot fail to 
afford pleasure to the feeling mind. . 

At the time of the preceding attacks, those of 
the 28th of December, and first of January, after our 
artillery had silenced that ot the enemy, and forced 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 245 

his troops to retire, repeated huzzas from the whole 
of our line rent the ain the most lively demonstra- 
tions of jojT'were everywhere exhibited by our sol- 
diers, a presage of the fate of the enemy, in a general 
attack. On the 8th of January, on the contrary, no 
sooner was the battle over than the roar of artillery 
and musketry gave place to the most profound si- 
lence. Flushed with victory, having just repulsed 
an enemy who had advanced to scatter death in 
their ranks, our soldiers saw, in th^ numerous corpses 
that strewed the plain, only the unfortunate victims 
of war; in the wounded and prisoners, whom they 
hastened to attend, only suffering and unhappy men, 
and in their vanquished enemies, brave men, worthy 
a better cause. Elated with their success, but over- 
powered by the feelings of a generous sympathy for 
those unfortunate victims of the ambition of their 
masters, they disdained to insult the unfortunate by 
an untimely exultation, and cautiously avoided any 
expression of joy, lest they should wound the feel- 
ings of those whom the chance of battle had placed 
in their hands. In the midst of the horrors of war^ 
humanity dwells with delightful complacency, on 
the recital of such noble traits; they sooth the heart 
under the pressure of adversity, and divert the mind 
from the contemplation of ills which we can neither 
avoid nor entirely remedy. 

I have said, that the English troops advanced on 
our line, with the greatest firmness, and I willingly 
seize the present opportunity of adding my feeble 
testimony of this fact to that of general Lambert. In 
the list of killed and wounded, which is subjomed to 



246 HISTORICAL KElfOia. 

his report, it will be remarked that the proportion of 
officers is enormous. From this circumstance may 
be formed a correct idea of the vigour of the attack, 
on the part of the enemy, and of the valour with which 
it was sustained. Independently of three general 
officers* who succumbed, on this day a great many 
of the most distinguished families of £ngland have 
to deplore the loss of some of their relatives, who 
died like heroes on the bed of honour; with such men 
it is always glorious to be connected. 

The report of general Lambert is written in the 
same liberal and dignified style which has always 
been remarked in his communications with genend 
Jackson and his officers. 

No. 5 is the report of colonel Thornton, com- 
mander of the English troops, in the attack on the 
right bank of the river, on the 6th of January. It is 
addressed to general Packenham, of whose death he 
was unadvised. The colonel in one part of this re- 
port says: *^ we met with no obstacle^ until we reached 
a picket J posted behind a bridgey^ &c. *^ and secured 
by a smalt work^ apparently just thrown up^ The 
bridge, of which he here speaks, is that over M ay- 
hew's mill-race, but as for the ^^ small work" appa- 
rently just thrown up, I really cannot conceive what 
he means. There existed nothing of this nature, or 
which he could consider as such, but the embank- 
ment of the canal, raised several years ago, with the 
earth dug out of it. If colonel Thornton should ever 
travel along tiie banks of the Mississippi, especially 
below New Orleans, he will meet with many such 
fortifications. 



BiSTO&ICAt KEMOIR. 247 

In the 5th plate of the Atlas, w31 be found a cor- 
rect view of that position, which, to colonel Thornton, 
seemed to be " a very Jbrmidable redoubt , on the bank 
of the river y with the right flank secured by an en* 
trenchmentf extending back to a thick wood, and its 
t!ne protected by an incessant fire ofgrape.^^ This 
pretended redoubt, with its entrenchedflank, extended 
but two hundred yards from the bank of the river, 
and not to a wood, as the colonel asserts. Beyond 
these two hundred yards, and in front of the troops 
under colonel Davis, there was only an extension of 
the old canal Raguet, two-thirds fiUed, and affordbg 
no sort of shelter. I refer the reader to what I have 
said, in this Work, of the above line, and the disposi- 
tion of the troops. Sec. 

According to this officer's account, our tropps 
on the right bank of the river, amounted to fifteen 
hundred; while in feet the number of our effective men 
did not exceed eight hundred. He takes care not to 
say, that the greater part of our pieces of artillery were 
spiked — and their ammunition thrown into the ri- 
ver: it would seem, on the contrary, that he took a 
considerable quantity of it, which canilot l}e the case, 
as commodore Patterson had taken care to destroy 
them, and all that he got possession of were a few 
rounds for-the pieces mounted on the line, and some 
musket cartridges. 

I renew my invitation to the reader, to compare 
every document of the enemy, with my narrative, 
and to trace the movements on the map, as the only 
means to arrive at the truth. 



248 :insTOfticAL memoir. 

No, 6 is a despatch of admiral Cochrane, to the 
secretary of the admiralty^ which gives an account 
of the operations reported by his generals Keane and 
Lambert) with those mentioned by major Forrest, but 
in a more succinct manner. His letter is devoted 
principally to the operations of the marines and sai- 
lors landed from the fleet, to aid the- land service; — 
and the mention of the marine officers who had distin- 
guished themselves. Accompanying his letter is 
one of captain Thomas Trowbridge, who command- 
ed the sailors that were disembarked, reporting fa- 
vourably the names of some of his officers whose 
good conduct he had occasion to notice. 

Admiral Cochrane also announces the bombard- 
ment of fort Plaquemine, which he fears, has not yet 
produced all tlie effect he no doubt had expected from 
It. More than one thousand bombs had been thrown 
at the fort — ^but in vain. It appears, that the admi- 
ral had not sufficiently studied the quality of tlie soil 
of Louisiana, when he despatched this little squadron 
into the Mississippi, to make, as he says, a diversion; 
but in fact, to force a passage; unfortunately, how- 
ever, for his expectations, the bravery and vigilance 
of the garrison of fort St. Philip defeated his scheme. 

No. 7 contains a long letter from general Lam« 
bert, addressed to lord Bathurst, detailing the move- 
ments of the British army, from the affair of the 8th 
of January until the 28th of the same month, the day 
after the total evacuation by their forces. In this let- 
ter, he says what is not altogether correct, viz. that 
the army was not at all harassed, in its retreat. I have 
given an account of the movements ordered by ge- 



ncral JadksbA, to annoy thfc enemy, wtio certainly 
feared being harassed, as is proved by his placing, in' 
Ae bayous, barges armed with ardllcry, to cover hiS 
retreat, aiid ^re oh the troops sent in pursuit, which* 
they did, as I have related in this Work, in its proper 
place. The enemy alsb raised breastworks, in se- 
veral placed, on the Borders of the bayous* (See 
Atlas, plate Nb; 5.) 

Effectually to annoy the enemy, in his retreat^ 
we had need of boatis, to descend the bayou Bien« 
venu, sufl^ciently large to carry artillery • These, 
a[s I have already said, we did not possess. General' 
Jackson, with men and muskets could make soldiers}' 
but he could not fabricate arms, nor supply the want^ 
of a naval force. 

In support of what I have advanced, as to the 
intention of the British government, to carry on a 
War of pillage and devastation against the United 
States, I iiisert several letters which establish thb 
feet, beyond all possibility of doubt. (See Apperi* 
dix. No. 67.) Some of these letters were written 
by superior officers, to others of similar grade} all 
of whom would have cautiously avoided the ex* 
pression of such sentiments, had they not been assur- 
ed befbrehand, that they corresponJdcd with those of 
their government, j^ I shall abstain from all reflection 
on these letters— they speak for themselves. Cotti* 
ment upon them might subject me to the charge of 
wishing to influence the opinion of my readers res* 
pecting documents which are alone sufficient to give 
a finish to the picture of the enemy with whom wrf 
had to contend. 

Kk 



250 HIStOEICAL MEMOIR. 

In the above review of the British official reports, 
I have been guided by that strict regard to truth 
and that severe impartiality, to which an historian is 
ever bound to adhere and should never lose sight of. 
The reader may compare for himself and form his 
own opinion. He will also observe, that these re- 
ports are written in a style of decorum and modesty, 
by no means usual with the enemy, previous to this 
period. It appears to have been reserved for the 
British officers, to be taught on the shores of the 
Mississippi, to know a nation, who, neither in the 
course nor at the commencement of this struggle, had 
ever any cause for self reproach, but who, on the 
contrary, had given many proofs of her patience in 
enduring the repeated and long-continued injustice 
of the English, and was, at length obliged to redress 
her grievances by the sword. 

Far from me be the wish of recrimiiiatuig fur- 
ther on the conduct of the British in the war which is 
now happily closed by a peace, honourable to both 
nations. I shall terminate this work, by offering up, 
iat^ommon with all good citizens, my prayer to hea- 
ven that it may long endure, and the effusions of my 
.gratitude to divine Providence, for the protection, 
which has encouraged and supported us through the 
glorious struggle. The unexaipgled pi^sperity, to 
which America has attained, notwithstanding the ob- 
stacles inseparable from a state of warfare, is a new 
proof of the divine favour; and a sure pledge of our fu- 
ture safety. While the names of Bridgewater, Chippe* 
wa, fort Erie, Stonington, Plattsburg, Baltimore and 
New Orleans, will ever excite, in the hearts of Amc- 



HISTORICAL MEMOIR. 251 

rican3 the most lively sensations of joy and of na- 
tional pride, it is to be hoped they will teach the 
English this important lesson, that none can insult 
with impunity a nation, which is firmly determined 
to maintain itself in the enjoyment of freedom and 

INDEPENDENCJp. 



NOTES. 

1. 
' Aftbr what I liave said in the text of this work, relative t0 
the Barratarians, had been prepared for the press, other particU' 
krs came to my knowledge, which I have thought proper to in- 
sert here. 

in tiie month of September, 1814, commodore Patterson 
had received instruction^ from the secretary of the navy, to dis- 
perse the Barratarian association, and the schooner Carolina had 
been ordered to New Orleans, for that purpose-^he was accord- 
ingly making preparations, jointly With c^onel Ross, of the 44tii 
leg^ment, then military commandant at New Orieans, but previous 
to the completion of his arrangements, communications of consid- 
erable importance w«re received by the governor, from Barrataria, 
which rendered doubtful the course which prudence required to bet 
taken. These communications furnished the particulars of an over- 
ture which had been made by certain British officers, then at Pen- 
■acola, to Mr. Lafitte, as the officer commanding at Barrataria, to 
join the British, in an attack on New Orleans. The letters an^ 
propositions of the English were sent by Mr. Lafitte, under C9ver 
So Mr. Blanque, a distinguished and influential member of the 
legislature. This gentleman deeming the disclosure by Mr. La- 
fitte, of great importance to the safety of the state, hastened to 
ky the same before the governor. Copies of these letters are. 
inserted in the appendix. 

The governor of Louisiana thought proper to invite, on the oc- 
casion, the opinions and counsel of some of the principal officers 
of the army, navy, and militia, then in New Orleans, and to whom, 
after comn^unicating the letters of the English officers, the man- 
ner in which ihey had come to his hands, or his reasons for believ- 
ing them genuine, he submitted two questions. — 1st, whether the- 
letters were genuine, and 3d, whether it was proper that the go- 
vernor should hold intercourse, or enter into any correspondetice 
with Mr. Lafitte and his associates. To each of those questions, 
an answer in the negative was returned; major-general Viller6 
done dissenting'— -this officer being, as well as the governor, who 
presiding in the council could not give his opinion, not only sa- 



254 NOTES. 

tisfied as to the, authenticity of the letters, but believing that the 
Barratarians might be employed at the presient crisis, in such man- 
ner as greatly to contribute to the safety of the state and the an- 
noyance of the enemy. The prepanttions for the expedition, un- 
der captain Patterson and colonel Ross, were continued} the for- 
mer acting under the orders of the secretary of the navy, and the 
latter co-operating, as is understood, at the request of the gover- 
nor of Louisiana. The result of the es^pedition was fully com- 
municated in 21, letter from captain Patterson to the secretary of 
the navy, which has been published in several of the newspapers. 
Many of the fugitives having reached New Orleans, and 
several being committed to jail, it was evident \^^l the Barratarian 
association was extensive, and many good citizens seemed to thinkp 
that in the perilous condition of Louisiana, it was good policy to 
avail themselves of the services of men, most of whom had been 
accustomed to war, and who> from the perfect knowledge of our 
Qoasty and the various points of approach to New Orleans, might 
be particularly useful to the enemy, by whom it waa now well 
ascertained, they had so earnestly been entreated to repair to his; 
standard. But as a preliminary and indispensable step, a pardon 
for all real or supposed offences was necessary, and this could 
be fpranted only by the president The governor was one of those^ 
who thpught that the Barratarians might be advantageously em- 
ployed against the enemy, and as early as the day of October 

jff,^ 1448^ in a letter to the attorney-general of the United States, 
he recommended them to the favour of the executive* ff It is 
greatly to be regretted (says the governor) that the general or 
state government had ijiot sooner put them 4own — ^the length of 
time they were permitted to continue their practices, added much 
to their strengt;hj( and led the people here to view their course aa 
less vitious. Measures tending to the prevention of cringes, can 
alone relieve us from the distress of punishing them; had such 
measures in regard to the offences in question, been earlier taken, 
we should not now have to lament the frequency of their commia-. 
sion. Justice may require the punishment of some of the more 
culpable, but I see no good end to be attained by making the 
penalties of the law to fall extensively and heavily—the example 
13 not the less imposing, by circumscribing the numbers of its vie- 



NOTES. 255 

lims, and the mercy which should dictate it seldom flails to make 
a salutary and lasting impression." After the capture of our gun-i 
boats, the invasion of the state was inevitable, and the expedien- 
cy of inviting the Barratarians to our standard was generally ad- 
mitted. The governor conferred on the subject with major-gen- 
eral Jackson; and with his approbation issued, on the 17th of De- 
cember, 1814, the following general orders: 

>' The governor of Louisiana, informed that many individuals, 
who may be or who are supposed to be, implicated in the of- 
fences heretofore committed against the United States at Barra- 
taria, and who have for' some time past concealed themselves 
on account of their iiuibUity to procure bail in case of arrest; 
at the present crisis express a willingness to enrol them- 
selves and to march agaihst the enemy.— He does hereby invite 
them to johi the standard of the United States, and is authorized " 
to say, should their conduct in the field meet the app|t)bation of 
major-general Jackson, that that officer will unite with the go- 
vernor in a request to the president of the United States to ex- 
tend to each and every individual as aforesaid so marching and 
acting, a free and full pardiMf^' ^ 

(Signed) William C. C. Claiboeve. 

Governor commanding the militia. 

These orders were sent in every direction, and tended to 
bring to our standard many brave men and excellent artilleristar 
whose services contributed greatly to the safety of Louisiana, and 
received the highest approbation of the commanding general. 
The legislature of the state, previous to their adjournment, re- 
commended the Barratarians as proper objects for the clemency 
of the president, who, by his proclamation upon the subject bearing 
date the 6th of February 1815, and transmitted officially to the 
governor, by the secretary of state of the United States, granted 
to them a full and entire pardon. 

NOTE 2. 
It has been asserted from the concurrent report of a great 
number of the British prisoners and deserters, that on the memo- 
rable 8th of February, the parole and countersign of the enemy's 



S56 NOTEd. 

army ^ert 6eMty dM booty. Although this' report ift gMefjtff 
believed in the United States, particularly as it nerer has been 
fomiaUy denied by those whom- it most concerns, I have not 
thought it stiftciently authenticated to record it as an historical 
fact. It is indeed^ most heinous charge, and if untrue, requires noC 
dbly a cleat and positive denial, but also the proof of the genuine 
parole and countersign, which may be easily obtained, as it is well 
known that it is consigned in the orderly books of every corps in 
the army. It has been skid that the British government considers 
it below its dignity to condescend to refute a calumny which has 
been only circulated through the medium of newspapers and 
other periodical publications in the United States. But this will not 
do; the almost linaniiiiotis assertion of the deserters and prisoners 
on which this report is founded, is a fact too serious to be looked 
over, and it is but tdo much supported by the positive and repeated 
threats of admiral Cochrane in his letters of the 18th August and 
1 9th September 1 9\ 4, (See Appcfndix, No. 8,) by the letters of other 
officers intercepted on board the St. Lawrence, (see also Appen* 
dix No. 67) and the conduct of the British at Hampton, Aiexandriai 
and other places. It cannot be consMtred derogatory to the dig> 
nity of any govemmeitt to undeceive a great nation, among . 
whom every individual exercises a portion of the sovereignty. 
The voice of that nation will be heard, aq4 its historians, if the 
British government persists in its unjustifiable silence, will at last 
no longer be swayed by the motives of delicacy and respect to a 
vanquished enemy which have actuated the author of these me- 
moirs. The fame of general Packenham and his officers, the 
moral character of the British military, strongly implicated by a 
charge of this nature, ' and the honour of the British government 
all imperiously demand that it be refuted, if capable of refutation, 
which may be easily done, if general Lambert, whose honourable 
conduct in the course of this campaign does not permit the least 
doubt to be entertained of his veracity, will only come forward 
and state the real state of the fact— otherwise, and if proof, such 
as this, cannot be obtained, the report niusi be considered as true, 
and, I leave to future historians the unpleasant task of animad^ 
verting upon a conduct so shocking to humanity. 



APPENDIX, 

TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

NO. I. 

CopT of a letter from vice-admiral Cochrane to Mr. Mooroe X 

Cop7 of a letter from Mr, Monrob to vice-admiral Coch* 

rane, &c. ....... i) 

An extract from the National Intelligencer, - iv 

Cop7 of a letter from vice-admiral Cochrane to the secre* 

,tary of state, --.... v 

-* NO. II. 

Anonymous letter written from the Havanna, - » v 

NO. III. 

l^roclamation b^ietenant-colonel Nicholls, - - vii 

Letter from the same to Mr. Laffite, . * ** * ^^ 
Directing orders by W. H. Percy, captain of the British 

ship the Hermes, &c. . . ^ . . ib. 

Letter from the same to captain Lockyer, Sec. * - x 

NO. IV. 
Letter from'Mr. Laffite to captain Lockyer, . . xi 

NO. V. 

Letter from Mr. Laffite to Mr. Blanque, - - « xii 

Letter from the same to the same, - - - xiii 

Letter from Mr. Laffite to governor Claiborne, - - ib. 

• 
NO. VI. 
Letter from Mr. Laffite the elder, to Mr. Blanque^ xiv 

NO. VIL 
Circular letter from the war department to the governors 

of the several states, - r - - - xv 
Extract of a letter from general Jackson to governor Clai- 
borne, xvi 

l1 



358 CONTENTS. 

NO. VIII. 
Militia general orderS) - xvii 

NO. IX. 
Extract of a letter from general Jackson to govemo;r Clai- 

bomfiy .-.---...XX 

NO. X. 

Militia general orders, xx 

After ge^enU orders, xxi 

NO. XL 
Militia general orders, xxii 

NO. XII. 
Order of the day for the first coloniel battalion of the royal 

marines - - . - - - - - xxit 

NO. XIII. 
Resolutions by the citizens of New Orleans, ^ - jlxy 

NO. XIV. 
Address from the committee of public defence to their fel- 
low citizens, xxvii 

NO. XV. 
Resolution by the committee of public defence, - xxriii 

NO. XVI. 
Proclamation by general Jackson to the people of Loui- 
siana. --.---.. xxix 

NO. XVIL 
Proclamation by general Jackson to the free coloured in- 
habitants of Louisiana, - - - . xxxi 

NO. XVIIL 
Anonymous letter to commodore Patterson - xxxii 

NO. XIX. 
Letter from commodore Patterson to the secretary of the 

^vy . . xxxii 



I 

CONTENTS. 94© 

. Report made by lieutenant Thomas Ap. Caitesbjr Jones 16 

commodore Patterson/ - - - . xsxiii 

NO. XX. 

Address by gpenerai Jackson to the mSUtiHt of Netr OrleatiS) k^xTti 

NO. XXI. 

Military order from the adjutant-getierars office directed 

to the citizens of New Orleans, - - xxxix 

NO. XXII. 
An act from the legislature of Louisiana to grant delays, 8c c. xl 

NOS. XXIII-XXIV. 
Letter from commodf)re Patterson to the secretary of the 

navy. --.---.- xlii 

NO. XXV. 
Copy of a letter froAi general Jackson to the secretary at 

war, -•.--. xliv 

Letter fi*om the same to the same, - - xlv 

NOS XXVI-XXVII. 

Copy of a letter from captain Henley, United States navy, to 

commodore Patterson, - - - xlvii 

Letter from general Jackson to the secretary at war, xlviii 

Copy of a letter fiH)m commodore Patterson to the secretary 

of the navy, ----- xlix 

NO. XXVill. 
Letter from commodore Patterson to the secrel&iry of the 

navy, - - - - . - - 1 

NO. XXIX. 

Copy of a letter from general Jackson to the secretary at 

war, lii 

Copy of a letter from the same to the same, - > - liv 

Report made by colonel Hayne to general Jackson, Ivi 

Copy of a letter from general Jackson to the secretary at 

war, -- ib. 

Letter from the adjutant-general R. Butler to brigadier 

general Parker Iviii 

Report of killed, wounded, &c. - - . ^ ib. 



360 CONTENTS- ' 

Letter from commodore Patterson to the secretary of the 

navy, - -Ix. 

NO. XXX. 

AddresB of general Jackson to the troops stationed on the 

right bank of tiie Mississippi, . . - • Ixiv 

NO XXXI. 

Provisional articles of exchange^for prisoners, - Ixv* 

NO. XXXII. 

tLetter from general Jackson to the secretary at war, Ixvii 

NO. XXXIII. 
Letter from generalJackson to reverend abbfe Dubourg . Ixviii 

NO. XXXIV. 

Defence of fort St. Philip— extract of a letter from general 

Jackson to the secretary at war, - . - Ixix 

Copy of a letter from major Overton to general Jackson, ib. 

NO. XXXV. 

Address by the rev. abb6 Duborg to general Jackson at the ^ 

ceremony of thanksgiving . ^ - - - Ixxl 

General Jackson's answer, ----- Ixxiii 

NO. XXXVI. 

Letter from general Jacksron to the mayor of New Orleans, IxxiH 

NQ. XXXVIL 

Letter from governor Claiborne to general Thomas Ixxv 

Answer, ------- Ixxvi 

letter from -governor Claiborne to general Carroll, Ixxvii 

Answer, - '- . - ^ - - . lb. 

Letter from governor Claiborne to general Adair, Ixxviii 

Answer, - - - - - - ib. 

Letter from governor blaibome to general Coffee, Ixxix 

Answer, --,--- Ixxx 

Letter from governor Claiborne to colonbl Hinds, - Ixxxi 

Answer, ----- ib. 

NO. XXXVIII. 
Letter from general Lambert to general Jackson, Ixxxii 

Letter from admaral Cochrane to general Jackson, Ixxxiii 



CONTENTS. 



261 



Another from the same to the same, - - Ixxxiv 

Another letter from general Lambert to general Jackson, ib. 

Letter from general Jackson to admiral Cochrane, - Ixxxv 

Another from the same to the same, - - Ixxxvi 

NO. XXXIX. 

Letter from general Winchester to the secretaiy at war, Ixxxvii / 
Letter from colonel Lawrence to g^eneral Jackson, ib. 

Articles of capitulation of fort Bowyer, - Ixxxviii 

NO. XL. 
General ordera relating to an inquiry into the conduct of 

colonel Lawrence, - - . Ixxxix 

NO. XLI. 
Address of general Jackson to the soldiers and citizens of 
New Orleans, 



NO. XLIL 
Letter from general Keane to general Jackson. 

NO. XLIII. 
Letter from genei*al Jackson to the secretaiy at war, 
Letter from general Lambert to general Jackson, 
Letter from general Jackson to general Lambert, - 
Letter from the same to the same, 
Letter from major Woodruff to admiral Cochrane, 
Letter from general Lambert to major Woodruff, 
Letter from general Lambert to general Jackson, 
Letter from general Lambert to major Woodruff 

NO. XLV. 

Letter from general Jackson to the secretary at war, 

NO. XLVL 
Letter from general Jackson to general Lambert 

NO. XLVII. 
Letter from general Jackson to general Lambert 



General orders, 



NO. XLVUL 



xc 



xci 



xei 
xciii 
xciv 

ib. 

'XQV 

xcvi 

.ib. 

xcvii 



XCYU 



xcviii* 



xcix 



XCIX 



362 CONTENTS. 

NO. XLIX. 
Letter from general Jackson to general Lambert^ - c 

Letter from the same to major Woodruff, - - ci 

NO. L. 

General orders relative to the treaty of peace, - ci 

After general orders, giving communication to the troops 

of a letter from the secretary at war, - - cil 

NO. LL 

General orders discharguig all the militia, - - ciii 

NO. LIL 

The treaty of peace with Gritain Britain, - - cv 

NO. LHI. 
Address from the city batulion of uniform companies to 

general Jackson, - - - - cxiv 

General's answer. - . . - cxvi 

NO. LIV. 
Letter ^m general Jackson to the secretary at war, cxviii 

NO. LV. 

Letter from major Woodi^uff to general Jackson^ - cxix 

» « 

NO. LVI. 
Letter from gen«raL Lambert to general JacktfoQ, « cxx 

NO. LVIL 
Rcsolutbns by the congress of the United States relative 

to the conduct of the people of Louisiana and others, cxxii 

NO. LVin. 
Letter from geti6ral |kckson to general Lambert, - cxxiv 

NO. LIX. 

ftesofutions 6f the legfislatufe of Louisiana, - cxxiv 

NO. LX. 

Proclamation by the (yflisidetit of (he United States, cxxix 

ifO. LXl. 
Detnion of the couH-martial in the case of major Viller6, cxxxi 



CONTENTS. ^•S 

NO. LXUJ 

i^s^Mracts of the proceedings of a court of inquiry rel«]titQ 
to the retreat on the right bank of the Mississippi on 
the 8th January, 1815, \ - - - cxxxii 

NO. LXIII. 
Proceedings of a court of inquiry held in the naval arsenal 

at New Orleans, by order of commodore Patterson, czx^ 

NO. LXIV. 

A list of the corps composing the British army> - cxxxvi 

Staff of the British army, - - - - - cxxxvii 

Letter from Dr. Morrell to the author, - - ib. 

NO LXVI. 

No. 1. Despatches from admiral Cochrane to John Wil- 
son Crooker, esqr. - . - » - - cxxxviii 
Letter from caytain Lockyer to admiral Cochrane cxl 
A list of the British killed and wounded in the capture 

of the American gun-boats, - — j - cxM 

No. 2. Letter from major-general Keane to major-general 

Packenham, - - - - - - cxliii 

No. 3. Extracts from the journal of the movements of the 

British army ------- cxlvii 

Nd. 4. Despatch from general Lambert to lord Bathurst, cxlix 
' Return of casualties, ----- cliii 

No. 5. Letter from 'lieutenant-colonel Thornton to major- 
general Packenham, ------ clvii 

No. 6. Letter from admiral Cochrane to John Wilson 

Crooker esqr clix 

Letter from captain Trowbridge to vice-admiral Coch- 
rane clxv 

No. 7. Letter from general Lambert to earl Bathurst clxvi 

Return of casualties, ----.. clxx 

No. 8. Letter from general Lambert to earl Bathurst, clxxii 

NO. LXVII. 
Letters found on board the St. Lawrence, - clxxvi 



264 CONTENTS. 

NO. LXVIII. 
Negro stealing - - - - - - - clxxx 

NO. LXIX. 
Address by major-general Jackson to the army, January 

2lst, 1815. clixxii 



APPENDIX, 



NO. I. 



Copy of a Utter frofii vice-admiral Cochrane to Mr. Monroe. 

His Britannic majesty's ship the Tonnant, 

in the Patuzttit riyer, 18th August, 1814. 

Sir— Having been called upon by the governor-general of the 
Canadaa to aid him in carrying into effect meaaures of retaliation 
against the inhabitanta of the United States, lor the wanton de- 
struction committed by their army in Upper Canada, it has be- 
come imperiously my duty, conformably with the nature of the 
governor-general's application, to issue to the naval force imder 
my command, an order to destroy and lay waste such towns and 
districts upon the coast, as may be found assailable, 

I had hoped that this contest would haye terminated, with- 
out my beuig obliged to resort to severities, which are cmitrary to 
the usage of civilised warfare, and as it has been with extreme 
reluctance axid coficem that I have found myself compelled to 
adopt this system of devastation, I shall be equally gratified if the 
conduct of the executive of the United States will authorise my 
staying such proceedings, by making reparation to the sufifering 
inhabitants of Upper Canada: thereby manifesting that IS the de- 
structive measures pursued by their army were never sanctioned, 
they will no longer be permitted by the government. 

I have the honour to be, ur, with much consideration, your 
most obedient humble servant, 

(Signed) Alex. Coohranb* 



u APPENDIX. 

^ofiy t^a letter from Mr. Monroe to 9ir Alexander Cochrane^ vice* 
admiraly &c. &c. 

Oepartment of ftate, September 6, 1814. 
Sir—- 1 have had the honour to receive your letter of the 18th 
of August, stating, that having been called on by the govemoF- 
general of the Canadas, to aid him in carrying into effect mea* 
sures of retaliation against the inhid)itantst>f the United States, for 
the wanton desolation committed by their army in Upper Canada, 
it has become your duty, conformably with the nature of the go- 
vernor-general's application, to issue to the naval force under 
your command, an order to destroy ^d lay waste such towns and 
districts upon the coast as may be found assailable. 

' It is seen with the greatest surprise, that this system of de- 
vastation which has been practised by the British forces, so lAani^ 
festty contrary to the usage of civilized warfare, is placed by you-. 
on the ground of retaliation. No sooner were the United States 
compelled to resort 1o war against'Great Britain, than they resolv- 
ed to wage it in a manner most consonant to the principles of hu- 
manity, and to those friendly relatibns which it Was deurAble t& 
preserve between the two nations, after ttie festAtttlioti tff ^cfe. 
They perceived however with the deeped re(gret,th«t a ttf^iit 
alike just and humane Was neitTier cherished nor act«d<m b]r ydUr 
government. Such an assertion would not be hazarded, if it Wfis 
not supported by fiicts, the proof of which has perhaps afattady 
carried the same convictioii to other nations that it has to the peo« 
pie of these states. Without dwellSng on the depiorable cruelties 
t^ommitted by the savages in the British ranks, and in British pay, 
oil American prisoners at the river Raisin, which to this day iutve 
never been disavovred or atoned, I refer, as more imm^diatily 
tondlKtod with the subject of your tetter, to the wanton' isola- 
tion that wis committed, at Havre-de-Gtace, and at Georgetown, 
«arly in the Spring 1 8 1 3.- These villages' were burnt «nd nlvtg- 
ed by the naval forces of Great Britsdn, to the ruin of their unxrm* 
ed inhabitants, who saw with astonishment that they derived no 
protection to their property fh)m the laws of war. During the 
same season, scenes of invasion and pilbige, carried on under the 
•wne authority, were witnessed all along the water* of the Che- 
sapeake, to an extent inflicting the most serious private distress, 



APPENDIX- W 

and under circumataoccs that justified the f uspicion» that rev(fpge 
and cupidity, rather than the manly motjves that should dictate 
the hostility of the high-minded foe, led t^ their perpejtrat^on. The 
late destruction of the houses of the government in this city ^s 
another ^ct which comes necessarily in yiew. In the wars of v^q- 
dem Europe, no exan^ples of the kind, even among nations the 
most hostile to each other, can be traced. In the course of ten 
years past^ the capitals of the principal powers of the continent 
of Europe have been conquered, and occupied alternately by the 
tictorious armies of each other, and no instance of such wanton 
and unjusti^able destruction has been seen. We must go back 
to distant and barbarous ages, to find a parallel for tlie acts of 
which I complain. 

Although these acts of desolation invited, if they did not im- 
pose on the government the necessity of retaliation, yet in no in- 
stance has it been authorized. The burning of the village of 
Newark in Upper Canada, posterior to the early outrages above 
enumerated, was not executed on that principle. The village of 
Nenrark adjoined fort George^ and its destruction was justified by 
the officer who ordered it, on the ground that it became necessary 
in the military operations there. The act however was disavowed 
by the government. The burning which took place at Long 
Point was unauthorized by the government, and the conduct of 
the officer subjected to the investigation of a military tribunal. 
For the burning at St. David's, committed by stragglers, the offi- 
cer who conunandedin ^t quarter was dismissed without a trial, 
Ibrnot pveveating it. 

I am eommonded by the president distinctly to sute, that it 
^lilde comports with any orders which have been issued to the 
fdlUtary aikl naval commanders of the United States, as it does 
..with the established and known humanity of the American nation, 
to pursue a system which it appears you have adopted. This go- 
yemment owes it to itself, to the principles which it has e^ber held 
saered, to disavow, as justly chargeable to it, any such wanton^ 
cruel and. unjustifiably war&re. 

Whatever unauthorized irregularity may have been commit* 
ted by any of its troops, it would have been ready, acting on these 
principles, of sacred and eternal obligation, to disavow*, and as far 



ij APPENDIX. 

a« might be practictble, to repair. But i|i the plan of desolatfop 
warfare which your letter so explicitly makes kBown, and which 
is attempted to be excused on a plea so utterly groundless, the 
president perceives a spirit of deep-rooted hostDity, which, with- 
out the evidence of such fiicts, he could not have believed existed, 
or would have been carried to such an extremity. 

For the reparation of injuries, of whatever nature they ttiay 
be, not sanctioned by the law of nations, which the nulitary or 
naval force of either power mzf have committed, against the other, 
this government will always be ready to enter into reciprocal ar- 
langements. It is presumed that your government will neither 
expect nor propose any which are not reciprocal. 

Should your government adhere to a system of desolation, so 
contrary to the views and practice of the United States, so re- 
volting to humanity, and repugnant to the sentiment and usages of 
the civilized world, whilst it will be seen with the deepest regret, 
it must and will be met with a determination and constancy be- 
coming a free people, contending in a just cause for their essen- 
tial rights, and their dearest interests. 

I have the honour to be, with great consideration, sir, your 
most obedient humble servant, 

(Signed) Javss Mokhoe. 

From the JSTational Intelligencer. 

We observe it hientioned in some prints, that the late letter 
of admiral Cochrane to the secretary of state was received before 
the enemy entered Washington. Thu is not so. We state the 
fact, on the most unquestionable authority, that it did not arrive 
in Washington until late in the night of the 30th of August, and 
that it was not received by the secretary of state untd tlie morning 
of the 31st. 

The letter was dated on the 18th, probably the very day the^ 
Tonnant arrived in the PatuxenU It affects to give previous no- 
tice of an intention to destroy and lay waste our towns, and yet is 
not even 9ent off (although antedated) until after this purpose 
has been accomplished at Washington. This is a very pretty little 
trick played off by the vice-admiral in his first essay at diplomatic 



APPENDIX. V 

correspondencey and W6 doubt not has been matter of pletont 
chuckling between himself and friend, that accomplished and high- 
bred gentleman admiral George Cockbum. It is worthy of re- 
mark, that a near blood relation of the ^ce-&dtniral's has lately 
been convicted in England and sentenced to the pillory for a de- 
ception practised upon the public there. The vice appears to 
run through the family. 

Vicc-admiral Cochrane to the $ecretary ofntate. 

Hb B. M. ship Tomiaiit, in the Chesapeake, Sept 19, 18U. 
Si A—I had the honour to receive your letter of the 6th inst. 
this morning, in reply to the one which I addressed to you from 
the Patuxent. 

As I have no authonty from my government to enter upon 
any kind of discussion relative to the points contained in your let- 
ter, I have only to regret that there does not appear to be any 
hope that I shall be authorized to recall my general order; which 
has been further sanctioned by a subsequent request from lieu- 
tenant-general sir George Provost. 

A copy of your letter will this day be forwarded by me to 
England, and until I receive instnictions from my government the 
measures which I have adopted must be persisted in: unless re- 
muneration be made to the inhabitants of the Canadas for the in- 
juries they have sustained from the outrages committed by the 
troops of the United States. 

t have the honour to be, &c. 

Alex. Coohrane. 



NOIL 

ANONYMOUS. 

Havanna^ August 8, 1814. 
Dear Sir, " 

J bmbraor. an opportunity offered for Pensacola, to inform 
you, that an expedition has sailed from Bermuda for Mobile, who 
touched and left this <m the 1 1th instant, under the command of 
colonel NichoUs of the artillery, a brave officer well knj>wn in the 
European wars. 



vi APPENDIX. 

Th97 touched here for lud in giin-boitfs» small Tcsaelsi, U-^. 
and for leave to land at Peosacolay all of which were refused by the 
captaln-^eoeraL Hoye?eri I learn that they are determined to 
land at Penaacola^ with or without leave, where they will dis- 
embark their park of artillery. The colonel was coByey^ d irith 
his troops in two sloops of war, the Hermesi coptmanded by the 
hon. W. H. Percy, and the Caron, commanded by the hon* P. 
Spencer, who, with such vessels as may be on the station, will co* 
operate with the land forces* 

The brig Orpheus, some time past, landed arms and some 
officers at ApaJachicpla^ tp arrai^e with the Creek joation for 
future ijjpenitioos against Mobile, N^ew Orleaiis ^d that distmt 
of the country, which they effected, and caused the breaking off 
the treaty. 

The whole nation are ready to join the Briti&h troops under 
colonel Nicholls, who wHl immediately on his arrival issi^e bia 
proclamatioib declaring all slaves who ?viU join their standard free 
and fiberated forever from their masters. jEie will also issue an- 
other to the Indians, promising all the tribea who wUl join him, lo 
reinstate them ija all their lands taken &<»m.the]p h^ the United 
States, and to guarantee the 3ame to them forever. Havjif^ thus 
prepared the minds of the negroes and Indians, he ^, on the ar- 
rival, of two or three black regiiment3» from Na^safi, 8tc..qf ,$Qe 
troops, calculated for th?it climate ^wbo si\ay pass by this ne^ 
week) push for New Orleans— first having secured and fortified 
Mobile, point, .and taken Mobile, as well as placed a force at every 
point on the lakes, of any importance, as well as Plaquemines, in 
order to cut off all trade of the Mississippi^ 

This force with him is small, but he will soon be re -enforced 
from Bermuda, &c. — the flying artillery appears well calculated 
for his operations in that country. 

When! have .stated tthcse fiicts, it will become your duty, and 
the duty of every citizen in the state, who has property or a&mi- 
1^ to protect and defend, tp rise in fin«as,and.dQfeat tbia sioat damn? 
ahle.and iiyfamDusiplanrftf -burning andoarnage, the .most horriUe 
and attocious ever before .projcctied by/a.^ivilioed nation. 

You have nf>t.a momsent to lose; becauaeif they.got aiboting^ 
it will be very difficult to get clear of them. The commMtdor •!' 



APPENDIX* vii 

thte Bca*for(x% the hon. W. H. Percy, » a very young man, a 
Stotchtoan, and mild and gt^ntletnanly, the aon of lord Beverly; 
but the cx>tonel is an impatient blusterbg Irishman, who was go- 
v'emor of Andant, in tfce German seas, and apparendy brave and 
cruel. 

I have only a moment to insist upon you again to save the 
state and the property of the planters at this awful crisis. 



NO. III. 

. PROCLAMATION, 

j9y Ueutenant'colonel Edward NicholU^ commanding hi$ Britannic 
majenty*^ forces in the Florida^. 

Natives of Louisiana! on you the first call is made to assist 
in liberating from a faithle&s, imbecile government, your paternal 
soil: Spaniards, Frenchmen, Italians, and British, whether settled 
or residing for a time, in Louisiana, on you, also, I call to aid me in 
this just cause: the American usurpation in this country must be 
abolished, and the lawful owners of the soU put in possession. I 
am at the head of a large body of Indians, well armed, disciplined, 
and commanded by British oi&cers— a good train of artillery with 
every requiute, seconded by the powerful aid of a numerous Bri« 
tish and Spanish squadron of ships and vessels of war. Be not 
alarmed, inhabitants of the country, at our approach; the same good 
faith and disinterestedness which has distinguished the conduct of 
Britons in Europe, accompanies them here; you will have no fear 
of litigious taxes imposed on you for the purpose of carrying on an 
unnatural and unjust war; your property, your laws, the peace and 
tranquillity of your country, will be guaranteed to you by men who 
will suffer no infringement of theii*s; rest assured that these brave 
red men only bum with an ardent desire of satisfaction, for the 
wrongs they have suffered from the Americans, to join you in liber- 
ating these southern provinces from their yoke, and drive them into 
those limits formerly prescribed by my sovereign. The Indians 
have pledged themselves, in the most solemn manner, not to injure, 
in the slightest degree, the persons or properties of any butenemUs; 
to their Spanish or English fathers, a flag over any door, whether 
Spanish, French, or British, will be a certain protection, nor dare 
any Indian put his foot on the threshold thereof, under penalty of 



via APPENDIX. 

death from his own couotrymeD; hot even an enemy will an Indian 
. put to 4path9 except resisting in arms, and as for injuring helpless 
women and children, the red men, by their good conduct and treat* 
ment to them, will (if it be possible) make the Americans blush for 
their more inhuman conduct lately on the Escambia, and within a 
neutral territory. 

Inhabitants of Kentucky, you have too long home with griev- 
ous impositions — the whole brunt of the war has fallen on your 
brave sons; be imposed on no longer, but either range yourselves 
under the standard of your forefathers, or observe a strict neu- 
trality; if you comply with either of these offers, whatever provi- 
' sions you send down, will be paid for in dollars, and the safety of 
the persons bringmg it, as well as the free navigation of the Mis- 
ussippi, guaranteed to you. 

Men of Kentucky, let me call to your view (and I trust to 
your abhorrence) the conduct of those facdons, which hurried you 
into this civil, unjust, and unnatural war, at a time when Great 
Britain was straining every nerve in defence of her own and the 
liberties of the world — when the bravest of her sons were fightlag 
and bleeding in so sacred a eauso— -when she was spending mil- 
lions of her treasure in endeavouring to pull down one of the most 
formidable and dangerous tyrants that ever disgraced the form of 
man— >when groamng Europe was almost in her last gasp— -when 
Britons alone showed an undaunted front — ^basely did those assas* 
sins endeavour to stab her from the rear; she has turned on them« 
renovated from the bloody but successful struggle — Europe is 
happy and free, and she now hastens justly to avenge the unpro- 
voked insult. Show them that you are not collectively unjust; 
leave that contemptible few to shift for themselves; let those slaves 
of the tyrant send an embassy to Elba, and implore his aid; but 
let every honest, upright American, spurn them with united con- 
tempt. After tjie experience of twenty-one years, can you any 
longer support those brawlers for liberty, who call it fi^eedom, when 
themselves are free; be no longer their dupe»— accept of my of- 
fers—every thing I have promised in this paper I guarantee to you, 
•n the sacred honour of a British officer. 

Qiven under my hand at my head^guartersy 
Pensacola, this i9ih day of August, 1814.. 

Edward Nicholls. 



APPJENDIX. ' ix 

kivfditd M$holl9 to Mr, Laffitt^ or the commandant at Barataria, 
Head-gMortdr^y Fensacola^ Au^Bt 31, 1814; 
Sir, 

I HAVE arrived in the Floridas for the purpose of ahnbying 

Uie only enemy iGrreat Britam has ui the ijrorld, as France and Eng- 
land al-e now friends. 1 call on you, with yoiir brave followers, to 
enter into the service of Great Britain, in which you shall have 
the rank of a captain; lands will be given to you all, in proportion 
to your respective ranks, on a peace taking place, andl invite yoii 
on the following terms. Your property shall be guaranteed to you, 
and your persdns protected: in return for which t ask yoii to cease 
all hostilities against Spain, or the allies of Grreat Britain.— Your 
ahips and vessels to be placed under the ordei's of the command- 
ing officer on this station, until the cbmmandef-in-chief's pleasure 
is known; but I guarantee their fair value at all events. I here- 
with inclose you a copy of my proclamation to the inhabitants of 
Louisiana, which will, t trust, point out to yoii the honourable in- 
tentibns of my government. Vou may be an useful assistant to 
me, in forwarding them; therefore, if you determine, lose no time: 
The bearer of this, captain M'Williams, will satisfy you on any 
other point you may be anxious to learn, as will captain Lockyei^ 
of the Sophia^ who brings him to you. We have a powerful rc- 
enforcement on its way here, and I hope to cut out some other 
Work for the Americans than oppressing the inhabitants of Louisi- 
ana. Be expeditious in your resolves, and rely on the verity of 
« Vour very humble servant, 

tlnwAan NickoLLs; 

By the hon, IVUlidm Henry Percy ^ cafitdin of hU majesty^ a ahifi 
HermcBy and aenior officer in the gulf ^f Mexico. 
tlAviKo understood that some British merchantmen have 
been detained, taken into, and sold by the inhabitants of Barataria, 
i have directed captain Lockyer, of his majesty's sloop Sophia, to 
proceed to that place, and inquire uito the circumstances, with 
positive orders to demand instant restitution, and in case of refusal 
to destroy to his utmost every vessel there, as well as to carry de- 
struction over the whole place, and at the same time to assure 
him of the co-operation of all his majesty's naval forces on this sta- 
tion. I trust at the same time, that the inhabitants of Barataria, 

b 



Jt APPENDIX. 

cdninitiiig their own intore&t, wUl oat make it Bttceatary to pro* 
ceed to such extrQmitie««*I hoid out ait the same time, a war in- 
staptly destructive to them; an^l on tjie other tiand, should they be 
hiclined to ass\3t Great Britain in her ju^t and unprovoked war 
against the United States, the security of their property, the bles- 
sings of the British constitution — and should they be inclined to 
settle on this continent, lands will, at thcj conclusion of the war, be 
allotted to them ui bis majesty's colonies in America. In return 
for all these concessions! on the part gf Creat Britam^ I expect 
that the directions of their armed vessels will be put into my hands 
(for which they wiU be renumerated,) the insttant cessation of 
hostilities ag^dnst the Spanish government, ^nd the restUudon of 
any undisposed property of that nation. 

S)iOuld any inhabitants be inclined to volunteer their serviges 
into his majesty's forceis, either naval or military, for limited 
service, they will be received; and if any British subject, beii\^ at 
Barataria, wishes to return to his native country, he wijl, on join- 
ing his majesty's service, receive a free pardon. 

Given under my hand on board H. M. ship Hermes, 
Pensacola, this 1st day of September, 1814. 
W. H. Percy, 
Cafitain and aenior officer. 

Letter from the hon. IV, H, Percgy cafitain of hU majesti^n •hifi 
Hermes^ and senior officer in the gulf of Mexico^ to Mchoias 
Lockyery esq. commander qf H. M, Hoop, Sophia, 
Sir, 

You are hereby required and directed, after having rec^ired 
on board an officer belonging to the first battalion of Hoyal colo- 
nial marines, to proceed in his majesty's sloop under your com- 
mand, without a moment's loss of time, for Barataria. 

On your arrival at that place, you will communicate with the 
chief persons there-^you will urge them to throw tliemselves un- 
der the protection of Great Britain— and should you find them in- 
clined to pursue such a step, you will hold out to them that their 
**'^~5rty shall be secured to them, that they shall be considered 

rat the conclusion of the war, lands within his 
- A-^erica, will be allotted to them in return 



APPENDIX. xi 

for these cencesftions. You will Insist on «n iiom^diMe cesMtkm 
of hostilities against Spain, and in case they should have any Spa-> 
maik property not disposed of, that it be restoredf atid that they put 
their navdl force into the hands of the senior officer here, until the 
commander-in-chiers pleasure is known. In the erent of their 
not being inclined to act offensively against tlie United States, you 
will do all in your power to persuade them to a strict neutrality, 
and still endeavour to put a stop to their hostilities against Spain. 
Should you succeed completely in the object for which you are 
sent, you will concert such measures for the annoyance of the ene* 
my as you judge best from circumstances; — having an eye to the 
junction of their small armed vessels with me for the capture of 
Mobile, &c. You will at all events yourself join me with the utn 
most despatch at this post, with the accounts of your succees. 

Given under my hand on board his majesty's ship Hermes, at 
Pensacola, this 30th day of August, 1814. 

W. H. Pebot, capt. 



NO. IV. 



Lttterfrom Mr, Laffite to Cafitain Lockyer, 

Baratariay ^th Sefitrmber^ 1814. 
Sir, 

The confusion which prevailed in our camp yesterday and 
this morning, and of which you have a complete knowledge, has 
prevented me tvom. answering in a precise manner to the object 
of your missioti; nor even at this moment can I give you all the 
satisfaction that you desire; however, if you could grant me ?^ 
fortnight, I would be entirely at your disposal at the end of that 
time— -this delay is indispensable to send away the three persons 
who have alone occasioned all the disturbance — the two who 
were the most troublesome are to leave this place in eight days, 
and the other is to go to town*-the remainder of the time is ne- 
cessary to enable me to put my affairs in order— you may com- 
municate with me, in sending a boat to the eastern point of the pass, 
where I will be found. You have inspired me with more confi^ 
dence than the admiral^ your superior officer, could have done 
bimself; with you alone I wish to ddal, and from you also I will 



xii APPENDIX. 

claim, in due time, the reward of tlie services which I may render 
to you. 

Be so good, sir, as to favour me with an answeri and believe 
me yours, &c. Lai fitji^ 



NO. V, 

Letter from Mr, Lajfitc to Mr. Bian^ue, 

BaratariOj 4th Sefttembery 18 U. 

Though proscribed tfy my adoptive country, I will never let slip 
any occasion of serving her, or of proving that she has never ceased 
to be dear to me. Of this you will here see a convincing proof- 
Yesterday, the Sd of September, there appeared here, under a flag 
of truce, a boat coming from an English brig, at anchor about two 
leagues from the pass. Mr. Nicholas Lockyer, a British officer of 
high rank, delivered me the following papers, two directed to me, 
a proclamation) and the admiral's instructions to that o$cer, all 
herewith enclosed. You will see from their contents the advan- 
tages I might have derived from that kind of association. I may 
have evaded the payment of duties to the custom house; but I 
have never ceased to be a good citia^n; and all the offence I have 
committed, I was forced to by certain vices in our laws. In shortj^ 
9ir, I make you the depository of the secret on which perhaps de- 
pends the tranquillity of our country; please to make such use of it 
as your judgment may direct. I might expatiate on this proof of 
patriotism, but I let the fact speak for itself. I presume, how- 
ever, t9 hope that such proceedings may obtain amelioration of 
the situation of my unhappy brother, with whiph view I recom- 
mend him particularly to your influence. It is in the bosom of a 
just man^ of a true American, endowed with all other qualities that 
are honoured in 8pcicty,that I think I am depositing the interests 
of our common country, and what particularly concerns myself. 

Our enemies have endeavoured to work on me by a motive 
which few men would have resisted. They represented to mea bro: 
ther in irons, a brother who is to me very dear! whose deliverer I 
might becpipe, and I declined the proposal. Well persuad^ of his 
innocence, I am free from.apprehenaion as to the issue of a trial; 



APPENDIX, sB 

hut he is sick and not in a place where he can receive the assist^ 
Ance his state requires. I recommend him to yoU) in the name of 
humanity. 

As to the flag of truce, I have d<Mie with regard to it everything 
that prudence suggested to me at the time. I have asked fifteen 
days to determine, assigning such plausible pretexts, that I hope 
the term will he granted. I am waiting for the British officer's 
answer, and for yours to this. Be so good as to assist me with 
your judicious counsel in so weighty an affair. 

I have the honour to salute you, 

J. I^AFFIT^t 

Letter from Mr, Laffite to Mr, Blanque, 

Grande Terre^ 7th September ^ 18 14, 
Sir, 

You will always find me eager to evince my devotedness to 
the good of the country, of which I endeavoured to give some 
proof in my letter of the 4th, which I make no doubt you receiv- 
ed. Amongst other papers that have fallen into my hands, I send 
you a scrap which appears to me of sufficient importance to merit 
your attention.* 

Since the departure of the officer who came with tlie flag of 
truce, his ship, with two other ships of war have remained on the 
coast, within sight Doubtless this point is considered as impor- 
tant. We have hitherto kept on a respectable defensive; if, how- 
ever, the British attach to the possession of this place, the impor- 
tance they give us room to suspect they do, they may employ 
means above our strength. I know not whether, in that case, pro- 
posals of intelligence with government would be out of season. 
It is always from my high opinion of your enlightened nund, that 
I request ^ou to advise me in this affair. 

I have the honour to salute you, 

J. Lavfxte. 

Letter from Mr, Laffite to hU exeellency W. C. C. Claiborne. 

In the firm persuasion that the choice made of you to fill the 
office of first nuigistrate of this state, was dictated by the esteem of 

* This piece is nunbered U in this Appendix. 



ait APPENDIX. 

ymrr feUowoCitUfittifly «nd was cofiferred on taerit, I confidently ad* 
dfMft you on m kfMr on which mty depend the safety of this 
country. 

I offer to yoa to restore to this itate sereral citi^en^ who per- 
haps m your eyes have lost that sacred title. I offer yon them, 
howoTer, such as you could wish to find theii^ ready to exert tfa^ 
utmost elf<»ts in defence of thei coiaitry. This point of LouMana) 
Which I occupy, is of fte^ importance in the presem crids. I 
tender my services to defend it; and tho only reward 1 ask is that 
a stop be put to the proscription against me and my adherents, by 
an act of oblivion for all that has been done hitherto. I am the 
stray sheep, wishing to return to the ^heepfold. If you were 
thoroughly acqu^nied with the nature of my offences, I should 
appear to you much less guilty, and still worthy to discharge the 
duties of a good citizen. I have never sailed under any flag but 
that of the republic of Carthagena, and my Vessels are perfectly 
regular in that respect. If I could have brought my lawful prizes 
into the ports of this state, I should not have employed the illicit 
means that have caused me to be proscribed. I decline saying 
more on the subject, until I have the honour of your excellen- 
cy's smswer, which I am persuaded can be dictated only by wis- 
dom. Should your answer not be favourable to my ardent de- 
sires, I declare to you that I will instantly leave the country^ to 
avoid the imputation of having co-operated towards an invasion on 
this point, which cannot fail to take place, and to rest secure in the 
acquittal of my own conscience. 

I have the honour to be 

Your excellency's, &c* 

J. Laffite. 



NO. VI. 

Letter from Mr^ Laffite^ he elder^ ta Mr. Blanqtte^ 

Grande Terre^ lOth Sefitemdery iai% 
Sir, 

Om my arrival here, I was informed of all the occun*encea 
that have taken place; I think I may justly commend my bn^- 
thcr's conduct under such difficult circuntstanses. I am per- 



• . APPENDIX. XV 

SQftd^d lie could not have made a better dime, than in making 
you the depositary of the papers that were sent to ua, and which 
may be of great importaaoe |o the atat^- Being fully determmed 
to follow the plan that may reconcile ns with the government, I 
herewith send you a letter directed to hie excelleney the gover- 
nor, which I submit to your discretion^ to deliver or not, as you 
may think proper. I have net yet been honoured with an answer 
from you. The momenta ate precious; pray send me an answer 
that may serte to direct my measures in the circumstances in 
which r find myself. 

I have the honour to bcy &c. 

P. Lafvits. 
P. S. 1 job with this the letter for Mr. Claiborne, which I 
submit to your judgment. Should you think, from its contents, 
that it may be delivered or communicated to him, you will do 
either, as you think proper. I send it to you under cover; after 
having read it, I request you to seal It. 



NO. VII. 

Circular Utter to thegovemorM of the several state*. 

« War defiartmenty July 4thy 1814. 
« Sir, 

<( The late paciAcatioo in Europe, oflE^re to the enemy a 
large disposable force, both o^val mi military, and with it the 
means of giving to the war here a character of new and increased 
activity and extent— without blowing with certainty, thai such 
will be its application, and still less that any particular point or 
points will become objects of attack, the pre^dent has deemed it 
a,dviaable, as a measure of precaution, to strengthen ourselves on 
the Une of the Atlantic, and (as the principal means of doing this 
will be found in the militia) to invite the executives of certain 
states, to organize and hold in readiness for immediate service, a 
corps of ninety-three thousand, fiye hundred men, under the lawa 
of the 98th of February 1 795, and the 1 8th of April 1 8 U. 

'^ The enclosed detail, will show your ei^cellency, wbal^ un- 
der this requisition, will be the quota of your state* 



fcvi APPENDIX. 

'< As far as voluateer uniform corps can be formed^ they wtU 
be preferred* 

^ The expediency of regarding (as well in the designation of 
the militia, as of their places of rendeavous) the points, the im<= 
portance or exposure of which, will be most likely to attract the 
▼i6ws of the enemy, need not be suggested. 

" A report of the organization of your quota, when complet- 
ed, and of the plaoe or places of rendeavous will be acceptable. 

I have the honour to be, Ud 
(Signed) John A&mst&oko.'* 

Of the force thus required to be hoiden in readiness, the 
quota assigned to Georgia, was three regiments, and one battalion 
»-viz. three hundred and fifty artillery, three thousand one hun- 
dred and fifty infantry, total, three thousand five ^h^y^dc^lL '^^ 
Kentucky five regiments, and one battalion, yTzrfive thousand five 
hundred infantry. To Tennessee, two regiments, and onebattelion 
— VIZ. two thousand five hundred infantry. To the Mississippi ter- 
ritory one b attalio n, viz. five hundred infantry;—- and Louisiana^ 
was required to furnish one regiment, viz. one thousand infiBuatry< 
The letter of the secretary at war reached govemoF*Clai- 
bome early in August, and by him was promptly attended to. On 
the 6th of Mareh, he apportioned the quota assigned to Louisitfia, 
between the first and second division of militia of the states 

Extract qf a Utter from major- general Jackson to governor Ciai^ 
bome^ dated head^quarteruj 7th Military district^Jbrt JackBon 
3Ur7u/K, 1814. 

This morning I itas presented with a new British musket 
given to a friendly Indian by those at Apalachicola bay. Informa- 
tion has been received by this fellow tending to confirm the ru- 
mour of a considerable force having landed there with a large 
quantity of sirms and other munitions of war, and with intentions 
to strike a decisive blow against the lower country. Mobile and 
Orleans are of such importance as to hold oUt strong inducements 
to them, at such a crisis: I must look to the constitutional autho- 
rities of the state of Louisiana for such support as will be effectiv<i 
in any emergency, and I trust this support will be afforded with 
promptitude when«v<:r required. 



APPENDIX. xni 

NO. VIII. 

Militia general ordevy head^qtuirterMy 

J^evf Orleans^ AugU9t 6th» 1814. 
In a letter from the honourable the secretary at war, under 
date of the 4th ultimo, the goyernor of Louisiana has received the 
orders of the president of the United States, to organize fU)d hold 
in readiness for immediate service, a corps of a thousand militia 
infantry, being the quota assigned to this state, of a requisition for 
ninety-three thousand five hundred men, made on the executives 
of the several states, under the laws of the 28th February 1795, 
and 18th of April 1814, the governor and commander-in-chief in 
consequence directs, that one complete regiment, a thousand strong» 
tq be composed of two battalions Ist and 2nd be organized and 
equipped for service, with the least possible delay. The first divi- 
sion of militia will furnish four full companies, each company to 
consist of one captain, one first lieutenant, two second lieutenants, 
four Serjeants, four corporals, one drummer, one fifer, and ninety 
privates— the whole to be apportioned among the several brigades 
or regiments attached to the first division by the major-general 
conunanding the sa||(ie, and under his orders to be organized on 
or before the 4th of September next, and due returns made to the 
adjutant-general. 

• The second division of militia will furnish five full compa- 
nies — each company to consist as aforesaid of one captain, one 
first lieutenant, two second lieutenants, four Serjeants, four corpo- 
rals, one drummer, one fifer, and ninety privates — the whole to be 
apportioned among the several brigades or regiments attached to 
the second division by the major-general commanding the same; 
and under his orders to be completely organized on or before the 
1 5th September next, and due returns made of the same. 

In all cases volunteer uniform companies of the strength re* 
quired will be preferred, and a tender of service from all such 
promptly accepted in assigning the quota of the first and second di^ 
vision. Thecommander-b-chief, as was his duty, has taken into view 
the exposure of particular points, and the amount and description 
of population; like considerations will influence the major-ge. i^rals 
in making apportionment among the several brigades and regi* 



%rm APPENDIXv 

ment8« The returns to the adjutant-general will give the names 
of the officers, non-commissioned officers and privates, and i>ar* 
ticulariy state the number and condition of the arms, in order that 
provision may be made for the supply of deficiencies. Each non- 
commissioned officer and private to furnish himself with a knap- 
sack and blanket. The colonel-commandant of the regiment, and 
the medical staff will be named by the commander-in-chief; the 
major of the first battalion to be selected by the major-general of 
the second divi^on; the major of the second battalion by the ma- 
jor-general of the first division, and the paymaster, adjutant, and 
quartermaster of the regiment by the colonel-commandant 

The corps thus to be organized and kept in readiness for 
active duty, will on the further commands of the president, or on 
the requisition of any officer acting under his authority, be order- 
ed into the service of the United States, for a term not exceeding 
six months after their arrival at the point of rendezvous unless 
sooner discharged. The point of rendezvous for the detachment 
drawn from the first division, will be the city of New Orleans, and 
from the detachment drawn from the second division, the town oi 
Baton Rouge. 

" The late pacification in Europe (says flie secretary at war) 
offers to the enemy a large disposable force, both naval and mili- 
tary, and with it the means of giving to the war here a character 
of new and increased activity and extent 

<< Without knowing with certainty, that such will be its appli* 
cation, and still less thaiiany particular point or points, will be- 
come objects of attack, the president has deemed advisable, as a 
measure of precaution, to strengthen ourselves on the line of the 
Atlantic.'' To these just reflections, the commander-in-chief will 
only add his firm reliance, that Louisiana will cheerfully partici- 
pate with the sister states in whatever toils or dangers, the safety 
of our common country shall advise. 

The desire manifested by the United States to sheathe the 
sword, on terms alike honourable to both parties, may indeed be 
met with a correspondent disposition. It is not easy to believe, 
that a nation should be so wholly regardless of duty to herself, 
as always to rejett the claims of justice — but let us not be so far 
deluded with a hope of peace, as to leave our country uncovered 



ATJPENDIX. xix 

and unprotected. If the latest reports from Europe are to be ac- 
credited, the enemy had determined on the most vigorous prose- 
cution of the war — it is added, that this section of the union was 
to be attacked with design << of wresting Louisiana from the hands 
of the United States and restoring it to Spain." 

A project so chimerical illy comports with that character fo^ 
wisdom, to which the English government aspires, nor is it be- 
lieved to be seriously contemplated. That the bare rumour, 
however, of such a design should awaken some anxiety, is cause 
of no surprise. But if there be individuals so much deceived, as 
to suppose its accomplishment possible, they are cautioned against 
being instrumental in deceiving others. The principles of the 
American government, no less than the intei^st and honour of the 
American people forbid the relinquishment of one tenth of the 
American territory. Whilst the western rivers flow, no foreign 
power can hold or detach Louisiana from the United States. She 
may indeed be temporarily exposed to an invading foe, but until 
by some convulsion of nature that numerous, gallant, and hardy 
race of men, inhabitiiig the vast tract of country watered by the 
tributary streams of the Mississippi, shall become extinct, the po- 
litical destiny of Louisiana is placed beyond the possibility of 
change. Her connexion, interest and government must remain 
American. We however do not solely rely for security on our 
northern and western brethren. We shall not be wanting in duty 
to ourselves, The commander-in-chief therefore avails himself 
of this occasion, to invite the officers thoughout the state, and 
particularly colonels of regiments, md commandants of separate 
corps, to be faithful and diligent in the discharge of their respec- 
tive duties. He orders the seven^ regimental, battalion and com- 
pany musters, as prescribed by law to be regularly holden, and 
every effort made to introduce order and discipline* If the war 
continues, we cannot hope for exemption from its calamities. 

In case of invasion, the whole militia will be ordered to front 
the enemy— if our homes and fire-^sides are menaced, union, zeal^ 
^nd mutual confidence should warm every heart and strengthen 
every arm, 

By order of his excellency William C. C. Claiborne, gover* 
nor and commander-in-chief. 

(Signed) A. Lankuvih.^\ 



x^. APPENDIX. 

NO, IX. 
Extract of a letter from major-general Jaekton to govtrtiT Cim- 
kome^ dated fort Jack$on^ August ISrA, 1815. 
iNroRif ATiOK this moment reccired by express from Alaba- 
ma Heights, bringing me a letter from Pensacola, added to the in- 
telligence received by captain Gordon, who was the bearer of a 
letter from me to the governor t>f Pensacola, makes it neceaaaryy 
that all the forces allotted for the 7th military district, should be 
held in a state of preparation to march to any. point required at a 
moment's warning. 

atssBBsaas \ 

NO. X.- 

MilUia general orders^ Aead^quarters^ 

AVw Orleans, September 5th, UU* 

Major-general Jackson acting under the authority of the 
president, having demanded the immediate service in the field of 
the whole corps of Louisiana militia, directed to be holden in 
readiness for service, under the general orders of the 6th ult. the 
governor and commander-in-chief directs that the officers, non- 
commissioned officers and privates, drawn from the first, second, 
third, fourth, and fifth regiments under the orders aforesaid, ren- 
dezvous in New Orleans, on Saturday the 10th instant, at 10 
o'clock, A. M. in the enclosure in front of the barracks, where, be- 
ing organized into companies under the orders of major-general 
Viller6, in manner heretofore directed,- they will be inspected by 
major Hughes, inspector-general of the seventh military district, 
and mustered into the service of th^ United States, and quartered 
in or near New Orleans, until further orders. 

Every individual will be punctual in his attendance: those, if 
if any there be, who may be prevented by severe indisposition, 
will send well attested certificates of the fact, or they will be re- 
ported as delinquents. Those who may claim exemption on the 
ground of bodily infirmity (and some few have exhibited such 
claims) will attend at the rendezvous, where they will be exanuned 
by a surgeon, upon whose report they will be rejected or passed 
by the inspector as justice shall dictate. Privates, wishing to serve 
by substitutes, will attend with the same, being previously instruct- 
ed that no substitute will be received but an able-bodied man. 



APPENDIX. xxi 

The time of rendezvous for detachments drawn from the more 
distant comities, will be fijLed in after orders. 

(Signed) W. C. C. Claiborne. 

AFTER GENERAL ORDERS. 

H. Q. J^cv> Orleans^ September 5th, 1814. 

Major«oeneral Jaokson, acting under the authority of the 
president, having required the service in the field of the whole 
corps of I^uisiana militia, holden in readiness for Active service 
under the orders of the 6th ult. the governor and commander-in- 
chief directs that the detachment drawn from the second division 
of militia, rendezvous at the post of Baton Rouge, on or before 
the 1st day of October next, where after being organized into 
companies, under the order of major-general Thomas,' in manner 
as heretofore directed, they will be inspected and mustered into 
the service of the United States. 

The commander-in-chief, confiding in the patrizytism of the 
several corps attached to the second division, assures himself that 
at this moment of peril, they will deserve well of their country* 
Louisiana is openly menaced, and it is believed that the force 
destined to invade her is at this time assembled at Apalachicola 
and Pensacola. Major-general Jackson, commanding the seventh 
military district, who has often led the western warriors to victo- 
ry, invites me to lose no time in preparing for the defence of the 
stateu This gallant commander is now at or near Mobile watch- 
ing the movements of the enemy, and making the necessary pre- 
parations to cover and defend this section of the union. He will 
in ddfe time receive re-enforcements from the other states on the 
Mississippi: he calculates a]30, on the zealous support of the 
Louisianians, and must not be disappointed. Th^ time has come 
when every man must do his duty, when no faithful American will 
be found absent from his post. 

By order of his excellency W. C. C. Claiborne. 
(Signed) A. Laneuville, 

Adjutant'generaU 
By another general order the detachment drawn from the 
sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth regiments, are ordered to ren- 
dezvous at the Magasin barracks opposite New Orleans, on Sa^^ 
turda; the 4th instant. 



xxii APPENDIX. 

NO. XI. 

Militia general orders^ head^qumrtersy 

.Ww Orlean9y Sefut ember 8th, IS 14, 

The governor and commander-in-chief directs that the several 
companies of militia) within the city and suburbs of New Orleans, 
muster for inspection and exercise twice, and those in the interior 
counties of the state, pnce in each and every week, at such times 
and places as the captains or officers commanding qompanies shall 
designate. He recommends also to all fathers of families and 
others who, by their stations or age, are exempted from militia ser- 
vice, to afford at this eventful crisis a laudable example; he invites 
them to the formation of military associations; to choose their offi- 
cers; to procure arms, and to asse.mble occasionally for military 
exercise. 

The commander-in-chief would be sorry unnecessarily to 
draw his fellow citizens from their private pursuits and subject 
them to useless &tigues, but in his judgment their safety demands 
that tliey be trained te the use of arms, and holden in readiness to 
turn out at a moment's warning in defence of their families and 
homes; he does not wish to excite alarm, and trusts none will ex- 
ist; but it is his duty to declare that the state is menaced with dan^ 
gers which require all our union, zeal, and activity to avert, A hope 
is still cherished that the pending negociation between the United 
States and Great Britain may eventuate in a peace honourable to 
both parties; but there is too much reason to apprehend that the 
enemy feeling power may forget right. Indeed from the informa- 
tion before us, \^e shall act wisely in preparing for the worst. At 
this moment a fleet of the enemy is hovering on our coast, and he is 
assembling a force at Apalachicola, Pensacola, and elsewhere, 
avowedly for the invasion of Louisiana. We must be prepared t9 
meet him; to dispute every inch of ground; harass liim on his 
march; make a stand at every favourable position, and finally to tri- 
umph or lose with our country, our lives. Every individual, there- 
fore, attached tq the militia will be in constant readiness for active 
service— officers of every grade at all times, be prepared to repair 
to their posts, and assume the conmiand which may b^ assigned 
them — non-commissioned officers and privates will put their arms^ 
whether muskets, rifles, or shot-guns in the l^cst possible coqditioii, 



APPENDIX. xxiii 

IttiDish themselves #ith six Bints each, as much powder and ball as 
can eonveniently be carried, and pack in their knapsacks one blan« 
ket, one shirt, and c»ie pair of shoes, being the necessary clothing 
on a march. The greatest vigilance will be observed, and every 
precaution taken to guard against surprise. Captains and subal- 
terns will keep their field officers advised of every occurrence 
which interests the public safety, and colonels or officers com- 
manding regiments will communicate the same to the generals of 
their respective brigades and division, and the general officers to 
the oommander-in-chief. Strong patroles will be ordered on every 
night, particularly within the city and suburbs of New Orleans 
and the adjacent counties. The strictest discipline will be main* 
tained among the slaves, and every person of suspicious conduct 
or character, will be arrested and carried before a judge, or jus- 
tice of the peace, for examination. If the enemy should enter the 
state, the several colonels of militia nearest the point of attack, will 
immediately order into the field their respective regiments, ifbd 
(after detailing a suitable guard for the protection of the women 
and children, and the maintenance of a proper police on the plan- 
tations) will advance without waiting for further orders to the 
scene of danger. Of the skill and courage of the regular troops 
of the United States in our vicinity, we are fully assured; we will 
unite our efforts with theirs agsunst the common enemy, and if 
called to act with our gallant countrymen of the western states, 
vie with them also in deeds of valour. 

The commander-in-chief persuades himself that no efibrts 
which have or may be made to divide us, will prove successful. 
The intrigues, the means of corruption by which in other coun- 
tries our enemy has so much profited, will doubtless be attempt- 
ed here. But his character is well understood, and it is hoped, 
that his arts will not avail him. In defence of our homes and &- 
milies there surely will be but one opinion— one sentiment. The 
American cid2en, on contrasting his situation with that of the citi- 
zen or subject of any other country on earth, will see abundant 
cause to be content with his destiny. He must be aware how lit- 
tle he can gsdn, and how much he must lose by a revolution, or 
change of government. 



xxiv APPENDIX. 

If there be a citisen who believes thai h» rights «>4 tyrop^r- 
ty would be respected by an invading £009 the weakness of his bead 
should excite pity. If there be an individual who supposes the 
kind offeree with which we are menaced could be restrained from 
acts of violence, he knows little of the character of those allies of 
Great Britain, who committed the massacre at fort Mims. 

In these evil days, small indeed is the portion of afflictioB 
which has hitherto be&llen Louisiana: when a hostile army breaks 
into the territory of a nation, its course is marked with scenes of 
desolation, which centuries of industry cannot repair. With what 
union, with what zeal, should all our energies be exerted to de« 
fend our country against like misfortunes! 

(Signed) Wm« C. C. CLAiBo&ifB. 



NO, XII. 

Head-guartersy Fenaacoia^ AugttMt 26, 1814. 
Carder of the day for the first colonial battalion of the royal corps of marines. 
You are called upon to discharge a duty of the utmost danger, of 
the utmost periL You will have to perform long and tedious marches 
through wildernesses, swamps and water-courses; your enemy from 
long habitinured to the climate, will have great advantages over you. 
But remember the twenty-one years of toil and glory of your coun- 
try, and resolve to follow the example of your glorious companions, 
who have fought and spilt their blood in her service. Be equally 
faithful and strict in your moral discipline, and this, the last and 
most perfidious of your enemies, will^ not long maintain himself 
before you. A cause so sacred as that which has led you to draw 
your swords in Europe, will make you unsheath them in America, 
and I trust you will use them with equal credit and advantage. In 
Europe, your arms were not employed in defence of your country 
only, but of all those who groaned in the chains of oppression, and 
in America they are to have the same direction. The people 
whom you are now to aid and assist have suffered robberies and 
murdei^ committed on them by the Americans. 

The noble Spanish jpation has grieved to see her territories 
insulted; having been robbed and despoiled of a portion of them 
while she was overwhelmed with distress and held down by the 



APPENDIX. XXV 

diabs which a tyrant had imposed on her gloriously struggling for 
the greatest of all possible blessings (true liberty.) The treache- 
rous Americans, who call themselves free, have attacked her, tike 
assassins, while she was fallen. But the day of retribution is fast 
approaching. These atrocities will excite horror in the heart of 
a British soldier, they will stimulate you to avenge them, and you 
will avenge them like British soldiers. Valour, then, and hu- 
manity! 

As to the Indians, you are to exhibit to them the most exact 
diBcipline, being a patteni to those children of nature. You will have 
to teach and instinict tiiem; in doing which you will manife&t the ut-> 
most patience, and you will correct them when they deserve it. 
3ut you will regard their affections and antifiathiea^ and never give 
themju9t caiue of offence. Sobriety, above all things, should be 
your greatest care — a single instance of drunkenness'may be our 
ruin; and I declare to you, in the most solemn manner, that no con- 
sideration whatsoever shall induce me to forgive a drunkard. Ap- 
prised of this declaration, if any of you break my orders in this 
respect, he will consider himself as the just cause of his own chas- 
tisement. Sobriety is your first duty; I ask of you the observance 
of it among your brethren.. Vigilance is our next duty. Nothing 
is BO disgraceful to our army as surprise. — Nothing so destructive 
to our cause. 

- EdWAAD NiOHOLtS. 

NO. XIIL 

At a very numerous and respectable meeting of the citizens of 
New Orleans and its vicinity, assembled pursuant to public 
notice at Tremoulet's coffee-house, on the 15th day of Sep- lU 
tember, IS 14, to consider of the propriety of nammg a com- 
mittee to co-operate with the constituted authorities oi the state 
and general government, in suggesting measures of defence, 
and calling out the force of the country in the present emer- 
gency, 

Edward Livingston, Esq. was called to the chair, and Rich- 
ard Relf, Esq. appointed secretary of the meeting. 

The chairman opened the meeting by a speech analogous to 
the occasion, in which he showed the propriety and necessity of the 



xxvi APPENDIX. 

meeting, and the good effects that would probably result from an 
expression of public opinion in the present posture of our afTairs, 
and took occasion, from the English assertion of disaffection in 
this state, to show, that we owed it to ourselves to disavow such 
unfounded and calumnious insinuations, and by a prompt smd 
cheerful offer of support, to show to the rest of the United States 
that we are not unworthy of a place among them. After a strong 
and eloquent invitation to union, he proposed the following resoltr* 
tions, which were unanimously adopted: 

Resolved^ That on all important national queationsy it is pro- 
per, and in urgent emergencies it is necessary, for tlie citizens of 
a free go verament to aid their magistrates and officers by a proffer 
•of their support in the performance of their functions. 

Resolvedy That in this state such an expression of public 
opinion is peculiarly proper, because the enemy has dared to al- 
lege that we are disaffected to our government, and ready to assist 
him in his attempts on our independence, an allegation which we 
declare to be false and insidious, tending to create doubts of our 
fidelity to the union of which we are a member, and which we re* 
pel with the indignation they ai:e calculated to inspire. 

Resolved, That an union with the other states is necessary to 
the prosperity of this, and that while we rely upon them for bm^ 
sistance and protection, we will not be wanting in every exertion 
proportionate to our strength, in order to maintain internal tran 
quillity, repel invasion, and preserve to the United States this im- 
portant accession to its commerce and security. 

Reaolvedy As the sense of this assembly, that the good peo- 
ple of this state are attached to the government of the United 
States, and that they will repel with indignation every attempt to 
create disaffection and weaken the force of the country, by excit- 
ing dissentions and jealousies at a moment when union is most 
necessary. 

Reaol'aedj That we consider the present as a crisis serious but 
not alarming— that our country is capable of defence — that we do 
not despair of the republic, and that we will at the risk of our 
lives and fortunes defend it. 

Re$olvedj That a committee of nine members be appointed 
to co-operate with the constituted civil and military authorities, in 



APPENDIX. xxvii 

suggesting means of defence, and calling forth the energies of the 
country to repel invasion and preserve domestic tranquillity, and 
that the said committee consist of the following persons: Edward 
Livingston, Pierre Foucher, Dussuau de la Croix, Benjamin Mor- 
gan, George M. Ogden, Dominique Bouligny, J. Noel Destre- 
han, John Blanque, Augustin Macarty. 

(Signed) Eoward LiviyosTdN, cAuirman, 

(Signed) Richard Rs^lf, secretary. 



NO. XIV. 

jiddresB from the committee of public defence^ to their fellovf 

citizeru. 
Fellow Citizens, 

Named by a numerous assembly of the citizens of New Or« 
leans, to aid the constituted authorities in devising the most certain 
means of guarding against the dangers which threatened you, our 
first duty is to apprize you of the extent of those dangers^^your 
open enemy is preparing to attack you from without, and by mean^ 
of his vile agents dispersed through the country, endeavours to 
excite to insurrection a more cruel and dangerous one in the midst 
of you. 

Fellow citizens! the most perfect union is necessary among 
all the individuals which compose our community; all have an 
equal interest in yielding a free and full obedience to their magis- 
trates and officers, and in forwardmg their views for the public 
good— all have not only their property, but their very existence 
at stake; you have, through your representatives in the convention, 
contracted the solemn obligation of becoming an integral part of 
the United Sutes of America; by this measure you secured your 
own sovereignty and acquired the invaluable blessing of indepen* 
dence. God forbid that we should believe there are any among 
us disposed to fail in the sacred duties required by fidelity and 
honour. A just idea of the geographical situation of your coun- 
try will convince you that your safety, and in a greater degree your 
prosperity, depends on your being irrevocably and faithfully at- 
tached to an union with the other states; but if there exist among 
you men base or mad enough to undervalue their duties and their 



xxviU APPENDIX. 

true interest— let tliem tremble on considefing the dreadful evils 
they will bring down upon themselves and upon us, if by their 
criminal indifferenqe they fiivour the enterprises of the enemy 
agunst our beloved country. 

Fellow citizens! the navigation of the Mississippi is as ne- 
cessary to two millions of our western brethren, as the blood is to 
the pulsation of the heart— those brave men, closely attached to 
the union, will never suffer, whatever seducing offers maybe made 
to them — they will never suffer the state of Louiuana to be sub- 
ject to a foreign power, and should the events of war enable the 
enemy to occupy it, they will make every sacrifice to recover a 
country so necessary to their existence. A war ruinous to you would 
be the consequence, the enemy, to whom you would have had the 
weakness to yield, would subject you to a military despotism, of 
all 6th^rs the most dreadful; your estates, your slaves, your per- 
sons would be put in requisition, and you would be forced at the 
point of the bayonet to fight against those very men whom you 
have voluntarily chosen for fellow citizens and brethren. Beloved 
countrymen, listen to the men honoured by your confidence, and 
who will endeavour to merit it; listen to the voice of honour, of 
duty, and of naturel unite! form but one body, one soul, and de- 
fend to the last extremity your sovereignty, your property— de- 
fend your own lives, and the dearer existence of your wives and 

children. 

Pierre FoXjchsr, 
Destrehan, 
Benjamin Morgan, 
Edward Livingston, 

DUSUAU DE LA CrOIX, 

Augustus Macartt, 
George M. Ogden. 
^D. Boulignt. 



(Signed) 



NO. XV. 

At a meeting of the committee of fitUflic defence on the 2\8t Se/i^ 
tember^ 1814, 

On motion, resolved, that a 9<idrey with a suitable inscription 
and proper emblems, be presented to major W. Lawrence, as a 



APPENDIX. XXIX 

testimonial of the sense which is entertained of his skill and ggAn 
lantry in the defence of fort Bowyer, and in the repulse of the 
enemy's squadron and forces before that place. 

Ordered, that the chairman communicate a copy of this reso- 
lution to major Lawrence, with a request that he will convey to 
the brave officers and men under his command, the expression of 
gratitude which is felt for the important service they have render- 
ed to this state, as well as to the United States. 

(Signed) Edward Livingston, chairman. 



NO, XVI. 

PROCLAMATION. 

Head-^guarteraj aeventh military diairict^ 

Mobilcy September 2 1 st, 1 S 1 4. 

LOUISIANIANS! 

The base, the perfidious Britons have attempted to invade your 
country— they had the temerity to attack fort Bowyer with their in- 
congruous horde of Indians and negro assassins— they seemed to 
have forgotten that this fort was defended by freemen — they were 
not long indulged in their error— the gallant Lawrence, with his 
little spartan band, has given them a lecture that will last for ages; 
be has taught them what men can do when fightmg for their liber- 
ty, when contending against slaves. He has convinced sir W. H. 
Percy that his companions in arms are not to be conquered by 
proclamations; that the strongest British bark is not invulnerable 
to^the force of American artillery, directed by the steady nervous 
arm of a freeman. 

Louisianians! — The proud Briton, the natural and sworn ene- 
mies of all Frenchmen, has called upon you, by proclamation, to 
aid him in his tyranny, and to prostrate the holy temple of our li- 
berty. Can Louisianians, can Frenchmen, can Americans, ever 
Itoop to be the slaves or allies of Britain. 

The proud, vain-glorious boaster colonel Nicholls, when he 
addressed you, Louisianians and Kentuckians, had forgotten that 
you were the votaries of freedom, or he would never have pledg- 
ed the honour of a British officer for the faithful performance of 
]|i8 promisci to lure you from your fidelity to the government of 



XXX APPENDIX. 

your choice. I ask you, LouisianianS} can we place any confidence 
in he honour of men who )iaye courted an alliance with pirates 
and robbers? Have not these nobfe Britons» these h(»iourable men, 
colonel NichoUs and the honourable captiun W. H. Percy, the 
true representatiyes of their royal master, done this? Have they 
t not made offers to the pirates of Barataria to join them, and theic 
I holy cause? And have they not dared to insult you by calling on 
you to associate, as brethren with them, and this hellish banditti. 

Louisianians!— The government of your choice are engaged 
in a just and honourable contest for the security of your individu- 
al and her national rights-^on you, a part of America, the only 
. country on earth where every man enjoys freedom, where its 
blessings are alike extended to the poor and the rich, calls to pro- 
tect these rights from the invading usurpation of Britain; and she 
calls not in vain. I well know that every man whose soul beats 
high at the proud title of freeman; that every Louisianian, either 
by birth or adoption, will promptly obey the voice of his country; 
will rally round the eagle of Columbia, secure it fh>m the pend- 
ing danger, or nobly die in the last ditch in its defence. 

The individual ^o refuses to defend his rights, when called 
upon by his government, deserves to be a slave, and must be 
punished as an enemy to his country, and a friend to her fi>e. 

The undersigned has been intrusted with the defence of your 
country— on you he relies to aid him in this important duty; in 
this reliance he hopes not to be mistaken. He trusts in the jus- 
tice of his cause and the patriotism of his countrymen— confident 
that any future attempt to invade our soil will be repelled as the 
last, he calls Hot upon either pirates or robbers to join him in the 
glorious cause. 

Your governor has been fully authorized by me to oi^^anize 
any volunteer company, battalion, or regiment which may proffer 
its services under this call, and is informed of their probable des- 
tination. 

(Signed) Anurew Jacksoit. 



AI^PENDiX. XXXI 

NO. XVII. 

PROCLAMATION. 

'Head-quartertjIthmUitary district^ Mobile ^ $efitember2\j 1814. 

To the fret coloured inhahitanu of Louiwina, 

Through a mistaken policy you have heretofore been de- 
prived of a participation in the glorioas struggle for national rights 
in which our country is engaged. This no longer shall exist. 

As sons of freedom, you are now called upon to defend our 
most inestimable blessing. As Americans, your country looks 
with confidence to her adopted children, for a valorous support, 
as a faithful return for the advantages enjoyed under her mild and 
equitable government. As fathers, husbands, and brothers, you 
are summoned to rally round the standard of the eagle, to defend 
all which is dear in existence. 

Your country, sdthough calling for your exertions, does not 
wish you' to engage in her cause, without amply remuneratmg you 
for the services rendered. Your intelligent minds are not to be 
led away by false Representations.— Your love of honour would 
cause you to despise the man who should atHempt to decdve you. 
In the sincerity of a soldier, and the language of truth I address 
you. 

To every noble-hearted, generous freeman of colour, volitti» 
teering to serve during the present contest with Great Britain, 
and no longer, there will be paid the same bounty in money add 
lands, now received by the White soldiers of the United States, viz. 
one hundred and twenty-four dollars in money, and one hundrM 
and sixty acres of land. The non-commissioned officers and pri- 
vates will also be entitled to the same monthly pay and daily ra- 
tions, and clothes furnished to any American soldier. 

On enrolling yourselves in companies, the major-general 
commanding will select officers for your government, from your 
white fellow citizens. Your non-commissioned officers will be 
appointed from among yourselves. v 

Due regard will be paid to the feelings of freemen and sol- 
diers. You will not, by being associated with white men in the 
same corps, be exposed to improper comparisons or unjust sar- 
casm. As a distmct, independent battalion or regiment, pursuing 
the path of glory, you will, undivided, receive the applause and 
gratitude of your countrymen. 



xxxii APPENDIX. 

To assure you of the sincerity of my iDtentions and my aoxiety 
to engage your invaluable services to our country, I have commu* 
aicated my wishes to the governor of Louisiana, who is fully in- 
formed as to the manner of enrolment, and will give yoti every ne- 
cessary information on the subj^t of this address. 

Amdrbw JaOKSOH) 
'^Major-General commanding. 



NO. XVIII. 

AMONTMOUS. 

To commodore Daniel T, Pattereoriy JStevf Orleane. 

Feneacolay 5th December j 18U. 
Sir, 

I TSBL it a duty to apprize you'^of a very large force of the 
enemy off this port> and it is*getierally. understood New Orleans 
is the object of attack. It amounts at present to abo^j eighty vessels, 
and more than double that number are momentarily looked for, to 
form a junction, whe» an immediate commencement of their ope- 
itttions will take place. I am not able to learn, how, when, or 
where the attack will be made; but I heard that they have vessels 
of all descriptions, and a large body of troops. Admiral Cochrane 
commands, and his ship, the Tonnant, lies at thb moment just out- 
side the bar; they certainly appear to have swept the West Indies 
of troops, and probably no means will be Teft untried to obtain their 
object— The admiral arrived only yesterday noon. 

I am yours, &c. 
N • • •. 

NO. XIX. 

Cofiy qfa letter from jcommodore Patterson to the secretary qfthc 
navy^ dated J^ew Orlean^y 17th Marchj 1815. 

iHOLo^sn I have the honour to transmit for your information 
a copy of a letter from lieutenant Thomas Ap Catesby Jones, giv- 
ing a detailed account of the action between the gun- vessels- under 
his command, and a flotilla of the enemy's lanches and barges, oa 



^^7i. 






^JJ\ ' "" APPENDIX. xnm 

Jthe 14th* December} 1814, which, after a most gallant letiAtaiioe, 
terminated, as stated in my letter of the 47th Decemheri in the 
capture of our squadron. 

The courage and skill which wak displayed in the defence of 
the gun- vessels and tender, for such a length of time, against such 
an oyerwhelming force as they had to contend with, reflects a4« 
ditional splendour on our naval glory, and will, I trust, dipunisb 
the regret oocaiioned by their loss, 

I have the honour to be, Ice. 

Damixi. T. PATT^nsWr 

J\revf Orleam^ 1 2th Marshy 1 8 U* 
Sir, 

Having sufficiently rcipovered my strength, I do myself the 
honour of reporting to you the particulars of the capture of the d|« 
vision of United States' gun*boats late under my command. 

On the 12th«*December, 1814, the enemy's fleet off Ship 
island increasecTto such a force as to render it no longer safe or 
prudent for me to continue on that part of the lakes with the small 
force which I commanded. I therefore determined to gain a st9» 
tion near the Malhereux islands as soon as possible^ which situa* 
tion would bett/sr enable me to oppose a further penetration of the 
enemy up the lakes, and at the same time afford me an opportuni* 
ty of retreating to the Petite Coquilles if necessary. 

At 10, A. M. on the *1 3th I discovered a large flotilla of bar« 
ges had left the fleet, (shaping their course towards the Pass 
Christian) which I supposed to be a disembarkation of troops in< 
tended to land at that place. About 2, P. M. the enemy's flotilla 
having gained the Pass Christian, and continuing their course to 
the westward, convinced me that an attack on the gun-^bpats was 
deugned. At this time the water in the lakes was uncommonly 
low, owing to the westerly wind which had prevailed for a number 
of days previous, and which still continued from the same quar« 
ter. Nos. 156, 162 and 163, although in the best chaimel, were 
in 12 or 18 inches less water than their draught. Every effort 
was made to get them afloat by throwing overboard all articles of 
weight that could be dispensed with. At 3 30, the flood-tide had 
commenced; got under weigh, making the best of my way to^ 
wards the Petite Coquilles, At 3 45, the enemy despatched three- 



xxxiv APPENDIX. 

boats to cut out the ftchooner Seahorse, which had been sent into 
the bay St. Louis that morning to assist in the removal of the public 
stores, which I had previously ordered. There finding a removal 
impracticable, I ordered preparations to be made for their destruc- 
tion, least they should fall into the enemy's hands. A few dis- 
charges of grape-shot from the Seahorse compelled the three 
boats, which had attacked her, to retire out of reach of Ker gun, 
until they were joined by four others, when the attack was re- 
commenced by the seven boats. Mr. Johnson having chosen an 
advantageous position near the two six -pounders mounted on the 
bank, maintuned a sharp action for near 30 minutes, when the ene- 
my hauled off, having one boat apparently much injured, and with 
the loss of several men killed and wounded. * At 7 30, an explo- 
sion at the bay, and soon after a large fire, induced me to believe 
the Seahorse was blown up and the public storehouse set on fire, 
which has proved to be the fact. 

About I A. M. on the 1 4th, the wind having entirely died away, 
and our vessels become unmanageable, came to anchor in the 
west end of Malheureux island's passage. At daylight next 
morning, still a perfect calm, the enemy's flotilla was about nine 
miles from us at anchor, but soon got in motion and rapidly ad- 
vanced on us. The want of wind, and the strong ebb-tide which 
was setting through the pass, left me but one alternative; which 
was, to put myself in the most advai^geous position, to give the 
enemy as warm a reception as possible. The commanders were all 
called on board and made acquainted with my intentions, and the 
position which each vessel was to take, the whole to form a close 
line abreast across the channel, anchored by the stern with springs 
on the cable, &c. &c. Thus we remained anxiously awaiting an 
attack from the advancing foe, whose force I now clearly distin- 
guished to be composed of forty-two heavy lanches and gun-bar- 
ges, with three light gigs, manned with upwards of one thousand 
men and officers. About 9 30, the Alligator (tender) which was 
to the southward and eastward, and endeavouring to join the di- 
vision, was captured by several of the enemy's barges, when the 
whole flotilla came to, with their grampncls a little out of reach 
of our shot, apparently making arrangements for the attack — At 
10 30, the enemy weighed, forming a line abreast in open ordcr^- 
aa^ steering direct for our line, which was unfortunately in some 



APPENDIX. XXXV 

degree broken by the force of the current, driving Noa. 1 56 and 1 63 
about one hundred yards in advance. As soon as tlie enemy came 
within reach of our shot, a deliberate fire from our long guns was 
opened upon him, but without much effect, the objects being of 
so small a size. At 10 minutes before 11, the enemy opened a 
fire from the whole of his line, when the action became general 
and destructive on both sides. About 1 1 49, the advance boats of 
the enemy, three in number, attempted to board No. 1 56, but were 
repulsed with the loss of nearly every officer killed or wounded, 
and two boats simk. — A second attempt to board was then made 
by four other boats, which shared almost a similar fate. At this 
moment I received a severe wound in my left shoulder, which 
compelled me to quit the deck, leaving it in charge of Mr. 
George Parker, master's-mate, who gallantly defended the vessd 
until he was severely wounded, when the enemy, by his superior 
number, succeeded in gaining possession of the deck about 10 
minutes past 12 o'clock. The enemy immediately turned the 
guns of his prize on the other gun^boats, and fired several shot 
previous to striking the American colours. The action continued 
with unabating severity until 40 minutes past 12 o'clock, when it 
terminated with the surronder of No. 23, all the other vessels hav- 
ing previously Odlen into the hands of the enemy. 

In this unequal contest our loss in killed and wounded has been 
trifling, compared to that of the enemy. 

Enclosed you will receive a list of the killed and wounded, 
and a correct statement of the force which I had the honour to 
command at the commencement of the action, together with an 
estimate of the force I had to contend against, as acknowledged 
by the enemy, which will enable you to decide how far the honour 
of our counti'y's flag has been supported in this conflict. 

I have the honour to be, &c. * 

(Signed) Thomas Ap Catbsby Jonks. - 

Statement of the effective forces of a divmon of the United States* 

gun^hoats under the command of lieutenant-commanding ThO' 

mas Afi Catesby Jones^ at the commencement of the action^ with 

a flotilla of English boat Sy on the 14th December^ 1814. 

Gun-boat No. 5, 5 guns, 36 men, sailing-master John D. Fer 

Tis; gun-boat 33, 5 guns, 39 men, lieutenant Isa^c M^Keeve 



sixatvl APMNOIX. 

gun^bottl No. t56, 5 ^nsy 41 men, lieutentnt'*commiuiidfttit Th«« 
mas A. C. Jonet^ gun*boat 163, 5 guns, 35 men, lieutenant Ro* 
bert Spedden; gun4>o8t 163, 3 guns, 31 men, aailing-mmatdr 
George Ulrick— Total, 33 gUM, 183 men. 

N.' B. The schooner Seahorse^ had one six-pound«r, and 14 
men, sailing*ma&ter William Johnson, comnander; none killed or 
wounded. 

The sloof) Alligator (tender) had one four-^pomder and • 
men, sailing-master Richard S. Shepperd, commander* 

(Signed) Thomas Ap Catssbt Jonbs. 

TheJhUfywing h a correct atatement qfthe BrUish/orcea which were 
engage in the cafiture qf the late United States* gun-^oata^ 
M>a. S3, 1S6, 5, 163 and 163,nrar the Malhereux iaianda^lake 
Borgncy 14th Btcembery 1814. 

Forty lanches and barges, mounting one carronade, each ot 
13, 18, and 34 calibre. 

Qne lanch mounting one long brass twelve-pounder. 
One lanch mounting one long brass nine^pounder. 
Three gigs, with small arms only. 

Total number of boaU 45 

Total number of canaoQ 43 

The above flotilla was manned with one thousand two faun* 
dred men and officers, commanded by captain Lockyer, who re- 
ceived three severe wounds in the action. The enemy, as usual^ 
will not acknowledge his loss on this occasion in boats or men; 
but from the nature of the action, and the observations made by 
oui' officers, while prisoners in their fleet, his loss in killed and 
wounded may be justly estimated to exceed three hundred, among 
whom are an unusual proportion of officers. 



APPENDIX. xxxvU 

NO. XX. 

OnSundayythe 18th December, general Jackson reviewed the 
militia of the city) the battalion commanded by major Plauche^ 
and a part of the regiment of men of colour. Being drawn up 
on their respective parades^ the following addresses were read 
to them by Mr. Livingston> one of his aids: 

TO THB BMBOOIED MILITIA. 

>Pellovf citizens and soldievM! 

Thb general commanding in chief would not do justice to 
the noble ardour that has animated you in the hour of danger, he 
would not do justice to his own feeling, if he suffered Ae example 
you have shown to pass without public notice. Inhabitants of an 
opulent and commercial town, you have, by a spontaneous effort, 
shaken off the habits which are created by wealth, and shown that 
you are resolved to deserve the blessings of fortune by bratvely de- 
fending them. Long strangers to the perils of war, you have em- 
bodied yourselves to face them with the cool countenance of vcte-> 
tans— and with motives of disunion that might operate on weak 
minds, you have forgotten the difference of language and the pre- 
judices of national pride, and united with a cordiality that does 
honour to your understandings as well as to your patriotbm. Na- 
-tives of the United States! They are the oppressors of your infant 
pcrfitical existence, with whom yo^^ are to contend— they are the 
men your fathers conquered whom you are to oppose. Descend- 
ants of Frenchmen! natives of France! they are English, the he- 
reditary, the eternal enemies of jrour ancient country, the invaders 
of that you have adopted, who are your foes. Spaniards! remem- 
ber the conduct of your allies at St Sebastians, and recently at 
FsBsacola, and rejoice that you have an opportunity of avengmg 
the brutal injuries inflicted by men who dishonour the human race. 

Fellow citizens, of every description, remember for wliat and 
against whom you contend. For all that can render life desira- 
ble — for a country blessed with every gift of nature — ^for property, 
for Ufo-'-'for those dearer than either, your wives and children—- 
and for liberty, without which, country, life, property, are no 
loi^r worth possessing; as even the embraces of wives and chil- 
dren beconie a reproach to the wretch who would deprive them 



xxxviii APPENDIX. 

by his cowardice of those inraluable blessings. You are to con^- 
tend for all this against an enemy whose continued effort is to de- 
prive you of the least of these blessings — who avows a war of ven- 
geance and desolation, canied on and marked by cruelty, lust, and 
horrors unknown to civilized nations. 

Citizens of Louisiana! the general commanding in chief, re- 
joices to see the spirit that animates you, not only for your honour 
but for your safety; for whatever had been your conduct or wishes, 
his duty would have led, and will now lead him to confound the 
citizen unmindful of his rights, with the enemy he ceases to oppose. 
Now, leading men who know their rights, who are determined to 
defend them, he salutes you, brave Louisianians, as brethren ia 
arms, and has now a new motive .to exert all his faculties which 
shall be strained to the utmost in your defence. Continue with 
the energy you have begun, and he promises you not only safety, 
but victory over the insolent enemy who insulted you by an affect- 
ed doubt of your attachment to the constitution of your country. 

TO THB BATTALION OF UNIFORM COMPANIES. 

When I first looked at you on the day of my arrival, I was 
satisfied with your appearance, and every d&y's inspection since 
has confirmed the opinion I then formed. Your numbers have 
increased with the increase of danger, and your aixiour has aug- 
mented since it was known that your post would be one of peril 
and honour. This is the true love of country! You have added 
to it an exact discipline, and a skill in evolutions rarely attained 
by veterans; the state of your corps does equal honour to the skill 
of the officers and the attention of the men. With such defenders 
our country has nothing to fear. Every thing I have said to th« 
body of militia, applies equally to you — you have made the same 
sacrifices-— you have the same country to defend, the same motive 
for exertion— but I should have been unjust had I not noticed, as 
it deserved, the excellence of your discipline and the martial ap- 
pearance of your corps. 

TO THE MEN OF COLOUR. 

SoLniERs — ^From the shores of Mobile I collected you to 
arms — I invited you to share in the perils and to divide the glory 
of your white countrymen. I expected much from you, for I was 
not umnformcd of those qualities which must render you so for- 



APPENDIX. xxxix 

midable to an invading foe— I knew that you could endure hunger 
and thirst and all the hardships of war — I knew that you loved the 
land of your nativity, and that, like ourselves, you had to defend all 
that is most dear to man — ^but you surpass my hopes. I have found 
in you, united to those qualities, that noble enthusiasm which im- 
pels to great deeds. 

Soldiers — The president of the United States shall be in- 
formed of your conduct on the present occasion, and the voice pi 
the representatives of the American nation shall applaud your va- 
lour, as your general now praises your ardour. The enemy is 
near; his ^^ sails cover the lakes;*' but the brave are united; and if 
he finds us contending among ourselves, it will be for the prize 
•f valour and fame, its noblest reward. 

(By command) Thomas L. Butleb, 



NO. XXI. 

The following spirited order gives a sufficient account of tlie 
motives which induced general Jackson to resort to the measure 
of proclaiming martial law. At the sam^ time that it served to con- 
vince the emissaries, whom the enemy might have sent among us, 
of the inutility of their mission, it convinced also the people of 
Xiouisiana, that the man who had come to take command of the 
forces, was decidedly determined to save the country, and to make 
use of all the means in his power to obtain that desirable end. 

A>w Orlemnsj December 15, 1814. 

To THE CITIZENS OF NbW OrLKANS, 

The major-general commanding, has, with astonishment and 
regret, learned that great consternation and alarm pervade your 
city. It is true the enemy is on our coast and threatens- an inva- 
sion of our territory, but it is equally true, with union, energy, and 
the approbation of Heaven, we will beat him at every point his 
temerity may induce him to set foot upon our soil. The general, with 
still greater astonishment, has heard that British emissaries have 
been permitted to propagate seditious reports among you, that the 
threatened invasion is with a view of restoring the country to 
Spain, from a supposition that some of you would be^willing to 



xl APPENDIX. 

T9iwn ta your WKiicnt government Believe not su^h incredible 
Uik»^your government is at peace with Spain*-it is the vit^} ene- 
my of your country, the con^mon enemy of mankind, the highway 
fobber of the world that threatens you, and has sent his hirelings 
«lRoagst you with this false report, to put you off your guard, that 
you may fall an easy prey to him;— then look to your liberdesf 
3rPur prt^rty, the chastity of your wives and daughters — take a 
retrospect of the conduct of the British army at Hampton and 
ether places^ where it has entered our country, and every bosom 
wbieh glows witE patriotism and virtue^ will be inspired with in- 
digBstiQii, and pant for the arrival of the hour when we shall meet 
•ad revenge those outrages against the laws of civilization and hu- 
manity. 

Tht gf necal calls upon the inhabitants of the city to trace 
thta unfounded report to its source, and bring the propagator to 
condign punishment. The rules and aiticles of war annex the 
punishment of death to any person holding secret correspondence 
with the enemy, creating false alarm, or supplying him with pro- 
vision; and the general announces his unalterable determinaticm 
rigidly to execute the martial law in all cases which may come 
within his province. 

The safety of the district entrusted to the protection of the 
general, must and will be maintained with the best blood of the 
country; and he is tonfident all good citizens will be found at their 
posts, with their arms in their hands, determined to dispute every 
inch of ground with the enemy: that unanimity will pen^ade the 
country generally: but should the general be disappointed in this 
expectation, he will separate our enemies from our friends — those 
who are not for us are against us, and will be dealt with accordingly. 

(By command) Thomas L. Butler, aidnU^camfi, 



NO. XXII. 

AN ACT 
To grant a delay in the canes therein mentioned^ 
Whsrkas the present crisis will oblige a great number of 
citizens to take up arms in defence of this state, and compel then! 



APPENDIX. ^ 

to quit thdr home^ Uid thud leave their private affairs in a state 
of abandonment, which may estpose them to ^eat distress, if the 
legislature should not, by measures adapted to the ciTcumstanceSi 
come to their relief, 

Seo. I* Beit enacted by the nenate and houae <^ refireaehta* 
tivea of the state qf Louisiana in general assembly convened^ That 
no protest on any note or bill of exchange, payable to order or 
bearer, or on any note, bill of exchange, or obligation for the pay- 
ment of money, shall or can be legally made, undl one hundred 
and twenty days after the promulgation of the present act. 

Sso. 2. jind be it further enacted^ That no property, either 
moveable or immoveable, belonging to successions or bankrupts^ 
or any property seized by virtue of any execution issued by the 
courts of justice, or justices of the. peace of this state^ shall be 
sold within one hundred and twenty days after the promulgation of 
the present act; Provided however^ that the delay aforesaid shall 
Jiot prejudice the holders or proprietors of the said notes, bills, 
obligations, or judgments, from demanding the interests which 
they would or might have legally demanded,' if the said delay did 
not exist. 

Seo. 3. And be it further enacted^ That from and after the 
promulgation of this act, no civil suit or action shall be commen-* 
ced or prosecuted before any court of record or other tribunal of 
this state, nor shall any execution issue or be proceeded upon; and 
all proceedings in civil suits or actions, now pending before any 
such court or tribunal, shall henceforth cease and be suspended 
during the time this act shall remain in force. 

Seo. 4« And be it further enacted^ That no sale of lands or 
daves which may be passed during the time this act remains in 
ibrce^ shall have any effect to the prejudice of the rights of the 
creditor or creditors, of the persons making such sale* Provided 
however f that such creditor or creditors who may have no existing 
Hen on such property, shall, before the first day of June next, mal^f 
known- to the person possessing the same, the claim or demand he 
or thej may have against the person who shall have sold thie ^ai^ 

Sko. 5. And be it further enacted^ That for the purpQse of 
preserring the securities of creditors under the said m^ef^^ 

f '\. . r: 



4u .^PPENI?!?- 

of judiciaJ proceeding?) the seyeral jud|g;:e^ and jj^sdc^ of t]^ 
peace of this s:tate, having original jurisdiction, ohall bay^ t{^ 
power of panting writs of sequestration, in casp my ^^Ijtor (*• 
debtors, during such suspension, shall remove or attempt tp re- 
move their personal estate and slaves^ or either of them without 
the jurisdiction of the courts; which may be detained under sfi- 
questration on petition filed by the creditor, the allegations con- 
tained in which petition shall be supported by the oath of the pe- 
titioner, his agent or attorney, Provided howevery that the debtor 
may replevy his estate so sequestered, on giving bond and secuK- 
ty for the payment of any judgment against him, or any debt to be 
liquidated by judgment or otherwise by the debtor and creditor. 
Sbo. 6. And be it further enacted^ That this act, within the 
parish of Orleans, shall be considered as beii\g legally pfpmulga- 
ted, on the day it shall have been approved by the govc^mor, and 
"^ithin the other parishes of this state, on the day of its promulga- 
tion, agreeably to the now existing laws. This act shf^i conunue 
and be in force until the first day of May next and no longer. 

Magloire Guichab9, 
Speaker of the house of representatives* 
FuLWAH Skip WITH, President of the Senate. 
Jlfifirovedy December 18, 1814. 

William C Claiborve, 
Governor of the state of Louisiana. 



NO, XXIII— XXIV. 

iatttr from commodore Patterson to the hon. Secretary at War. 

U. S, shift Louisiana^ December 28, 1814. 
felt, 

1 HATE the honour to inform you that on the 23d instant, while 
at the bayou St. John, examining the batteries erecting there by 
Ihe havy, under the superintendance of captain Henley of the Caro- 
Hha, I learnt that information had been received by general Jack- 
son* that the enemy had penetrated through bayou Bienvenu with 
B lar^ force, and had effected a landing at general VUlcr6's plan- 
tBtic€i'§h the banks of the Mississippi, which upon application to 
the general proved to be true. The alarm was immediately given in 



APPENtJIX. mi 

toWD) and tht trobps pi^t lA motion; I repsdred <Sii hcfird th6' Uifi- 
ted States' lichooner Carolina, with captain Henley, aild after or^t* 
ing the Louisiana, commanded by lieutenatit-commandaiit C. 9. 
Thompson) td follow roe, at 4 P. M. weighed, ahd it bfeibg' cafativ 
dropped down with the current; at about half past six I receit^ d" 
request from^ general Jackson, through Mr. Edward Livingstoiii Ms? 
add-de-camp, to anchor abreast of the enfemy*s canip, which hi^- 
pointed out, tlttd open a fire upon thom. It continuing calmi g<$t^ 
o\it sweeps, and a few ihinutesi after, having licen frcquerifljrhiif* 
ed bjr the eh^khy's sentirtel^, anchored, rcered oiit a I<^g ^ope of 
cable, sheered close iti shore abreast of their camp, and; cbmitieiiW 
ced a heavy (and as I havq since learned most destructive) fire 
from our starboard battery and amall arms, which was returned 
most spiritedly by the enemy with congreve rockets and musket- 
ry from their whole force, when after about forty minutes of most 
incessant fire, the enemy Was silenced; the fire f^om our battel}^ 
was continued dll nine o'clock upon the enemy's flank while en- 
gaged in the field with our army, at which hour ceased firing, 
supposing ftom the distance 4>f the enemy's fire (for it was too 
dark to see any thing on shore) that they had retreated beyond the 
range of our gCna-^weAghed and swept across the river, in hopi€ 
of a b^eese the next morning to enable me to renew the attack 
upen the enemy, should they be returned to their encampment; 
but was disiippointed on the a4th by a light air hoax nortii*narkh- . 
west, which towards the evei]ing> hauled toward northwest^ and 
blew a heavy gale, compelling me to remain during the 34th9 ^Sth| 
and 36th at anchor in a position abreast of the enemy, althwigh 
every possible .exertion was niade by captain Henley to waiy the 
schooner up» without success, from the extreme rapidity of the cur* 
rent occasioned by the very uncommon rise of the river. On the af> 
temoon of the 36th j at the request of general Jackton, I visitedliim 
at his headrqiMarters, find went frtmi thence to toWb to equip and 
arm with two thirty-two'-pobnders, sudi merbhant vessels in port, 
as I might find capable oTsupportuig them« During the 34th, 35th, 
and 36th» fired at the enemy whenever they could be seen. Ow- 
ing to the calmness of the night of the 33d, ^e Louisiana could 
not join me till the mornmg of the 34th, when she fortunately 
anchored about ime'mile above the Carolina. By the fire from the 



xliv APPENDIX. 

enemy on the night of the 2Sd» one man only was wounded^ and 
very little injury done to the hulli sailSf and rigging; in her bal- 
warks were a great number of musket baUs, several in her masts 
and topmasts, and through her mainsail. Nothing could exceed 
the incessant fire from the Carolina, which alone can be attributed 
to the high state of discipline to which captain Henley has brought 
her crew. Of him, lieutenants Norris and Crawley, and sailing- 
master Haller, I caimot speak in too high terms; the petty officers 
and crew behaved with that cool determined courage and zeal 
which has so strongly characterized the American tars in the 
present war. I have the honour to be, he. 

D. T. Patterson. 

NO. XXV. 

Cojiy qfa letter from general Andrew Jackson to the secretary of 

woTy dated 
Camfi near JVew Or leans j 26th DecemdeTy 1814. 

The enemy having, by the capture of our gun-boats, obtained 
colnmand of the lakes, were enabled to effect a passage to the 
Mississippi at a point on the side of New Orleans, Imd about nine 
miles below it. The moment I received the intelligence, I has* 
tened to attack him in his first position. It was brought on in the 
night and resulted very honourably to our arms. The heavy 
smoke, occasioned by an excessive fire, rendered itnecessary that 
I should draw off my troops, after a severe conflict of iipwards of 
an hour. 

The attack was made on the night of the 2dd. Since then 
both armies have remained near the battle-ground, nmking pre- 
parations for something more decisive. 

The enemy's force exceeded ours by doUble, and their loss 
was proportionably greater. Th^ moment I can spare the time, 
I will forward you a detailed account. In the meantime I expect 
something &r more important will take place* I hope to be able 
to sustain the honour of our arms and to secure the safety of this 
country. 

I have the honour tx> be, &c. 

AvnaEw Jackson. 



APPENDIX. xW 

Majors-general Jaekeon to the secretary ofvHtr, 
Head-'quartersy 7th military district^ camfi below JN'ew Orleans^ 27th 

Dtcembery A» M, 
Sir, 

The loss ef our gun-boats near the pass of tiU Rigolets, 
having given the enemy comnland of lake Borgne, ne was ena- 
bled to choose his point of attack. It became therefore an ob- 
ject of importance to obstruct the numerous bayous and canals 
leading from that lake to the highlands op the Mississippi. This 
important service was commhied, in the first instance, to a detach- 
ment from the 7th regiment^ afterwards to colonel Delaronde of 
the Louisiana militia, and lastly^ to make all sure, to major-general 
Viller6, commanding the district between the river and the lakes, 
and who> being a native of thecountry, was presumed to be best 
aoquainted with all these passei. Unfortunately, however, a pic- 
quet which the general had est&iished at the mouth of the bayou 
Bienvenu, and which, notwithtanding my orders, had be^n left 
unobstructed, was completely airprised, and the enemy penetrated 
through a canal leading to his farm about two leagues below the 
city, and succeeded in cuttingoff a company of militia stationed 
there. The intelligence was conmumcated to me about 2 o'clock 
of the S3d. My force, at this ime, consisted of parts of the 7th 
and 44th regiments, not exceedng six hundred together, the city 
militia, a part of general CofFce^s brigade of mounted gun-men, 
and the detached militia from tie western division of Tennessee, 
under the command of maj«r-general Carrol-^these two last 
corps were stationed fonr milee above the city. Apprehending a 
^uble attack by the way of Ghef-Menteur, I left general Car- 
jroll'B force, and the militia of th« city, posted on the Gentilly road; 
and at 5 o'clock P. M. marched to meet the enemy, whom I was 
resolved to' attack in his first position, with major Hind*s dra- 
goons, general Coffee's brigade, parts of the 7th and 44th regi- 
ments, the uniform companies of militia under the command of 
major Plauche, two hundred men of colour (chiefly from St. Do- 
iniBgo) raised by colonel Savary and acting under the command 
of major Daquin, and a detachment of artillery under the direction 
of colonel M^Rea, with two six-pounders under the command of 
lleut. Spot8-«»nat exceeding in all fifteen hundred. I arrived near 



»lvi APPENDIX. 

the enemy's edcampment about 7, and iaAmediately wAde my dis- 
positions for the attack. His forces amounting at that time on 
land to about three thousand^ extnoded half a mile on the river, 
and in the rear nearly to the wood. General Coffee was ordered 
to turn tktJr right, while, with the residue of the force, I at- 
tacked his ikrongest position on the left, near the river. Commo- 
dore PaUerson having dropped down thcf iver in the schoonev Ca- 
rolina, was directed to open a fire uppntheircaiopy which he exe- 
cuted at about half after 7. Thie bebg the signal of atUck, gene- 
ral Coffee's men, with their usual impetuosity, nished on the ene- 
my's right, aad entered their camp, while our right advanced 
with equal ardour. X^re can be but litUe doubt that we should 
have succeeded oh that occasion, wth our inferior force, in de-' 
stroying or capturing the enemy,.had not a t^ack fog, which anyae 
about 8 o'clock, occasioned some confusion among the differwt 
corps. Fearing the consequence^ under this circumstance, of 
the further prosecutiqn of a night ituck with troops then acting 
together for the first time, I cont^^ myself with lying qn the 
field that night; and at 4 in the DH>PMiig a^umed a stronger poei- 
tion about two miles nearer to the ^y . .At thia position 1 remain 
encamped, waiting the arrival .of t^e.K^t^cky miliuii and other 
re-enforcements. As the safety of jhe eity wUi 4^^d .on the fate 
of this army, it must not be incautiqwly.e^cpQs^dv 

In this affair the whole corps under my comu^d deaefva 
the greatest credit The best coi|pJiment I can- pay togei^efal 
Coffee and his brigade,, is to say Jbey behay^ a» they> have^ al- 
ways done while under my commfoid. The 7th, led l^y m^or 
Peire, and the 44th) commanded bf colonel Ross, AstinguisheAt 
themselves. The battalion of city militia, comQianded by.ilMJpr 
Plauche, realized my anticipations, and behaved like veterans*--- 
Savary's volunteers, manifested gr^ai ^irpry*^-lDid. the c<|mpW9 
of city riflemen, haying penetrated into the midst o£ the enemy's 
camp, were sun*ounded^ and fought their way out with the gveat-^ 
est heroism, bringing with them a number of prisoners^ The 
two field pieces were well served by the officer commanding 
them. 

All my officers in the line didth^ir duty^ and 'I have every 
reason iQ be satisfied with the whole of my fiel^^and ataffi~Coln* 



AVPEMODL xliru 

*ri«^ mtbr i^ WmA, wU mtjor CbotBrd, bj tiiefar inticpif%, 
fliu^^ the aitUkiy. Colonei Ha§raea was ^verjF where that duty 
or dinger called. I was dcprified of tti^ sernces of one of my 
•aidS) ciqitfda Butler, whom i was cMi^ed to statioii» to his great 
regmt in town. CaptMO Reid^ kny ^tter aid, oad ' Measra. lif- 
iagston^ Ihipiesais and Daveaac, who h«d Tolunteered their ser- 
vices, faced diing^r wherever it was to be met, and earned mj 
orders with the utmost promptknde. 

We mad0 one major, two •\ibakerD8,aiMl sixtjr-rthree priTates 
prisoQersf and the enemy's loss in killed aad wounded moat have 
been at least -^—r* M]r own toss I have net as yet been able to a»> 
certain with exactness, but suppose it to amount ta one hundred 
in killed, wounded and missing* Among the former I hare to 
.lament the loss of coloned Liuderdaie of geaeaai-Cdiree'a brigade, 
who Sell whUe braveiy fighting. Colonels Dyer and GibeOn» of 
the same corps, were wounded, and major Kavenaugh taken pr^ 
soner. 

Cokmet Delaronde, major Viller6 of the« Louisiana militsa, 
major Latour of eaigineera, having no command» volunteered their 
9ervice«, ea did Drs* Kerr and Flood, and were of great aaate- 
ance to me. 

I have the humom to be, 8cc. 

ANJ>|mw J4AK80K. 

NO. XXVI— XXVII. 

Cofiy qf a letter from qafitain Henley^ commanding kite United 
States* schooner Carolina^ to commodore Patterson^ dated 

J^ew Orleans^ December 28, 1814. 
Sir, 

I HAVE the honour to inform you, that after you left here on 

the 36th instant, in pursuance to your orders every possible ex- 
ertion was made to move the schooner Carolhia higher up the ri- 
ver and near general Jackson's camp, without success; the wind 
being at N. N. W. and blowing fre^ and to6 scant to get under 
way, and the current too rapid to move her by Warping, which I 
had endeavoured to do with my crew. 

At daylight, on the morning of the 27th, the enemy opened 
upon the Carolina a battery of five guns, from which they threw 



Kiviii \ AfPENDlt. 

shells and hot sl»t; letanied their fif€ with tlie long twelTe-pouiid' 
er, the bnly gun on board vhich could reach across the river, the 
remainder of her batterj being light twelve-pound carronades. 

The air being light and at norths rendered it impossible to 
get under way; the second shot fired by the enemy lodged in the 
schooner's main-hold under her cablesi and in such a situation as 
pot to be come at, and Ired her, which rapidly progressed; finding 
that hot shot were psssing through her cabin and filling room, 
which contained a coMderable quantity of powder; hec bulwarks 
all knocked down by the enemy's shot, the vessel in a sbking situa- 
tion, and the fire increasing, and expecting every moment that she 
would blow up, at a little after sunrise I reluctantly gave orders 
for the crew to abandon her, which was effected, with the loss of 
one killed and six wounded; a short time after I had succeeded in 
getting the crew on shore, I had the extreme mortification of see- 
ing her blow up. 

It affords me great pleasure to acknowledge the able assist- 
ance 1 received from lieutenants Norrisand Crawley, and saiiiiig- 
master Haller, add to say that my officers and crew behaved on 
this occasion, as well as on the 33d when under your own eye, in a 
most gallant manner. 

Almost every article of clothing belonging to the officers and 
cvewy from the rapid progress of the fire, was involved in the de- 
struction of the vessel. 

I have the honour to be, &c. 
(Signed) Johk D. Heklet. 

P. & I have not made out a detailed account of the action on 
' the night of the 23d, as you were on board during the whole action. 

Letter from major^^eneralJack^onj to the secretary of war j dated 
Head-quartersy seventh military distriety 

Camfi belovf Mto Orleans^ December 29, 1814^ 

SlR) 

The enemy succeeded on the 27th in blowing up the Caro- 
lina (she being becalmed) by means of hot shot from a land bat- 
tery which he had erected in the night. Emboldened by this event, 
he niarched his whole force the next day up the levee, in the hope 
pf driving us from our position, and with this view, opened upon 



APPENDIX. Xlix 

US| at the distance of about half mile, his bombs and rockets. He 
was repulsed, however, with considerable loss; not less, it is be- 
lieved, than one hundred and twenty in killed. Ours was incon- 
siderable; not exceeding half a dozen killed and a dozen wounded. 

Since then he has not ventured to repeat his attempt, though 
lying close together. There has been frequent skirmishing be- 
tween our picquets. 

I lament that I have not the means of carrying on more of- 
fensive operations. The Kentucky troops have not arrived, and 
my effective force at this point, does not exceed three thousand. 
Theirs must be at least double; both prisoners and deserters agree- 
fcg in the statement that seven thousand landed from their boats. 

Andrew Jackson. 

Cofiy of a letter from commodore Patterson^ commanding our na- 
val force on the Orleans station^ to the secretary of the na-»yy 
dated U. S, shift Louisiana^ 4 miles below A>w Orleans^ 

29\h DecembeTy 1814. 
Sir, 

I HAVB the honour to inform you, that on the mGtming of the 
28th instant, at about half past seven, perceived our advanced -guard 
retreating towards our lines-<^he enemy pursuing; fired shot, 
'Shells, and rockets, from field artill(||y, witli which they advanced 
on the road behind the levee; sprung the ship to bring the star- 
board guns to bea^ upon the enemy; at 25 minutes past 8 A. M« 
the enemy opened their fire upon the ship, with shells, hot shot, 
and rockets, which was instantly returned with great spirit and 
much apparent effect, and continued without intermission till one 
P. M. when the enemy slackened their fire, and retreated with 
a part of their artillery from each of their batteries, evidently with 
great loss. Two attempts were made to screen one heavy piece 
of ordnance mounted behind the levee, with which they threw hot 
shot at the ship, and which had been a long time abandoned ber 
fore they succeeded in recovering it, and then it must have been 
with very great loss, as I distinctly saw, with the aiil of my glass, 
several shot strike in the midst of the men (seamen) who were 
employed dragging it away. At 3 P. M. the enemy were silenced; 
at 4 P. M. cea*sed firing from the ship, the enemy having retiree! 
beyond the range of her guns. Many cf ti\cir shot passed over thf 



1 ^PENDIJL -- ^ 

»hip, ftnd their shells burst over her decksy whi^JjBMgffnr wc4 
with their fragments; y et, after an iofcessant c«]|||<^m|^ of up* 
vands of seven hours, during which ^me eight bunchretf fliiot werf 
fired from th^ ship, one man only wgs wounded sjightlyj by tbf 
piece of a shell, said one 9hQt passed between the bowsprit and 
heel of the jib*boom. 

The enemy drew up his whole force, evidently with an in- 
tention of assaulting general Jackson's lines, under cover of his 
heavy cannon; but his cannonading being so warmly retuiped frooi 
the lines and ship Louisiana, caused him, I presun^e^ to abandon 
his project, as he retired without making the attempt. You wijl 
have learned by my former letters, that the crew of the Louiyian^ 
1$ composed of men of all nations, (English excepted) taken from 
the streets of New Orleans not a fortnight before the battle; yet 
I never knew guns better served, or a more animated fire, than 
was supported from her. 

Lieutenant C. C. B. Thompson deserves great credit for the 
discipline to which in so short a time hc'had brought such men, 
two-thirds of whom do not understand English. 

General Jackson having applied for officers and seamen to 
work the heavy cannon on his lines furnished by me, lieutenants 
Norris and Crawley, of the late schooner Carolina, instantly vo- 
lunteered, and with the gi#ter part of her 6rew were sent ta 
those cannon, which they served during the action herein detail* 
^. The enemy must have suffered a great loss in that day's 
action, by the heavy fire from this ship and general Jackson's 
lines, where the cannon was of heavy calibre, and served with 
great spirit 

I have the honour to be, with great consideration and respect, 
your obedient servant^ 

Daniel T. Pattbesom. 



NO. XXVIIL 

Letter from cgmmodore Patterson to the secretary of the navy. ■ 
Marine Batteries j 5 miles beioitf M Orleans^ January 3, 1815. 

SlE, 

Finding the advantageous effect which resulted from the 
ilanking-fire upon the enemy from the Louisiana, as detailed in 



APPENDIX. li 

Wj letter of the 29th ultimo> I that night had brought down 
from the navy yard, and mounted in silence, a twenty- four pounder 
on shore, in a position where it could most annoy the enemy when 
throwing up works on the levee or in the field. On the 30th * 
opened upon the enemy with the twenty-four pounder, which 
drove them from their works, the ship firing at the same time 
upon their advance, Vhich retired from the levee and sheltered 
itself behmd houses, 8cc. The great effect produced by the guj> 
on shore, induced me on the 31st to land from the Louisiana two 
twelve-pounders, which I mounted behind the levee in the most 
advantageous position, to harass the flank of the enemy in his ap- 
proaches to our lines, and to aid our right. At four A. M. the 
enemy opened a fire upon the left of our line with artillery and 
musketry, which was returned most spiritJy with artillery and 
musketry. At two P. M. the enemy having retired, the firing 
ceased. 

On the first instant, at ten A. M. after a very thick fog, the 
enemy commenced a heavy cannonading upon general Jackson's 
lines and my battery, from batteries they had thrown up during 
the preceding night on the levee; which was returned from our 
lines and my battery, and terminated, after a most incessant fire 
frpm bothpaities of nearly five hours, in the enemy being silenced 
and driven from their works; ma^y of their shells went immedi- 
ately over my battery, and their shot ]jiassed Uirough my breast- 
work and embrazurea, without injuring a man« On this, as on 
the 28th, I am happy to say, that my officers and men beliaved 
to my entire satisfaction; but i beg leave particularly to name 
acting lieutenant Campbell, acting sailing-master John Gates, 
acting midshipman Philip Philibert, of the Louisiana, and sailing- 
master Ualler, of the late schooner Caiolina. I did not drop the 
Louisiana down within the range of their shot, having learnt from 
deserters that a furnace of shot was kept in constant readiness at 
each of their batteries to bum her; and the guns being of much 
greater effect on shore, her men were drawn to man them, and I 
was particularly desirous to preserve her from the hot shot, as I 
deemed her of incalculable service to cover the army in the event 
of general Jackson retiring from his present line to those which 

he had thrown up in his tear. 

I have the honour to be, &c. 

Daniel T. Pattekso*. 



nV APPENDIX- 

NO, XXIX. 

^^Py of a Utter from major-general Jackaofi to the secretary qf 

war^ dated 

Camfi^ four miles below Orleans^ 9th January^ 1815. 

SiH, 

During the days of the 6th and 7th, the enemy had been ac- 
tively employed in making preparations for an attack on my lines^ 
With infinite labour they had succeeded on the night of the 7th 
in getting their boats across from the lake to t!# liver, by widen- 
ing and deepening the canal on which they had effected their dis- 
embarkation. It had not been in my power to impede these ope- 
rations by a general attack—padded to other reasons, the nature 
of fhe troops under my command, mostly militia, rendered it too 
hazardous to attempt extensive offensive movements in an open 
country, against a numerous and well-disciplined army. Although 
my forces, as to number, had been increased by the arrival of the 
Kentucky division, my strength had received very little addition; 
• small portion only of that detachment being provided with arms. 
Compelled thus to wait the attack of the enemy, I took every 
measure to repel it when it should be made, and to defeat the ob- 
ject he had in view. General Morgan with the Orleans contin- 
gent, the Louisiana militia, and a strong detachment of the Ken- 
tucky troops, occupied an intrenched camp on the opposite side 
6i the river, protected by strong batteries on the bank, erected and 
superintended by commodore Patterson. 

In my encampment every thing was ready for action, when 
early on the morning of the 8th the enemy, after throwing a heavy 
shower of bombs and congreve rockets, advanced their columns 
on my right and left, to storm my intrenchments. I cannot speak 
sufficiently in praise of the firmness and deliberation with which my 
whole line received their approach. More could not have been 
expected from veterans inured to war.-^For an hour the fire of 
the small arms was as incessant and severe as can be imagined. 
The aitillery, too, directed by officers who displayed equal skill 
and courage, did great execution. Yet the columns of the enemy 
continued to advance with a firmness which reflects upon them 
the greatest credit. Twice the column which approached me on 
my left, was repulsed by the troops of general Carroll, those of 



APPENDIX. l4i 

general Coffee and a dWision of the Kentucky militia, and twico 
they formed again and renewed the assault. At length, however, 
cut to pieces, they fled in confusion from the field, leaving it co- 
vered with their dead and wounded. The loss which the enemy 
sustained on this occasion, cannot be estimated at less than fifteen 
liundred in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Upwards of three 
hundred have already been delivered over for burial; and my men 
are still engaged in picking them up within my lines, and carry- 
ing them to the point where the enemy are to receive them. This 
is in addition to the dead and wounded whom the enemy have been 
enabled to carry from the field during and since the action, and 
to those who have since died of the wounds they received. We 
have taken about five hundred prisoners, upwards of three hun- 
dred of whom are wounded, and a great part of them mortally. 
My loss has not exceeded, and I believe has not amounted to ten 
killed and as many wounded. The entire destruction of the ene- 
my's army was now inevitable, had it not been for an unfortunate 
occurrence, which at this moment took place on the other side of 
the river. Simultaneously with his advance upon my Ifaies, he 
had thrown over in his boats a considerable force to the other side 
of the river. These having landed, were hardy enough to ad- 
vance against the works of general Morgan; and, what is strange 
and difficult to account £6r, at the very moment when their entire 
discomfiture was looked for with a confidence approaching to cer- 
tainty, the Kentucky re -enforcements, in whom so much reliance 
]iad been placed, ingloriously fled, drawing after them, by their 
example, the remainder of the forces; and thus yielding to th« 
enemy that most formidable position. The batteries which had 
rendered me, for many days, the most important service, though 
bravely defended, were, of course, now abandoned; not however 
until the guns had been spiked. 

This unfortunate rout had totally changed the aspect of af-^ 
fairs. The enemy now occupied a position from which they 
might annoy us without hazard, and by means of which they might 
have been able to defeat, in a great measure, the eff'ects of our 
success on this side the river. It became therefore an object of 
the first consequence to dislodge him as soon as possible. For 
thjis object, all the means in ray power, which I could with any 



ViY APPENWX, 

safety use, were immediately pot in pi«epfiratk>ar Peffaap9» bow- 
ever, it was owing somewhat u^ another cause that I succ^ded 
even beyond my expectations. In negociating the terms of a tem- 
porary suspension of hosdlities, to enable the enemy to4)ury their 
dead and provide for their woundedi I had required certain pro- 
positions to be acceded to as a baaia, anrang which this was oa^-« 
that) although hostilities should cease on iMa side the river until 
twelve o'clock of thia day, yet it was not to be understood that 
they should cease on the ethtr side; but that no re-enforcementa 
should be sent acrosa by eitAer army until the expiration of that 
day. His excellency major-general Lambert begged time to coo^ 
aider of those propositkios unti^ ten. o'clock of to-day, and in the 
meaatime re-crossed kia troops, I need not tell you with how 
much eagerness' I immediately refined possession of the posi- 
tion be had thus happUy quieted. 

The enemy having concentrated hia forces, may again at- 
tempt to drive me from my poMtio» by storm. Whenever be 
does^ I have no doubt my men will act with their usual firmnes^ 
and sustain a character now become dear to them. 

I have the honour to be, &c. 

Andrew Jacksoh. 

Oofiy of a letter from major-general Jackson to the eecretary ^f 
I fpar, dated 

Campy four niiiee below AVtr Or leans y January 13, 1815> 
Sir, 

At such a crisis I conceive it my duty to keep you constant- 
ly advised of my situation. 

On the 10th instant I forwarded you an account of the bold 
attempt made by the enemy on the morning of the 8th, to take 
possession of my works by storm, and of the severe repulse which 
he met with. That report having been sent by the mail which 
crosses the lake, may possibly have miscarried; f(5r which reason 
I think it the more necessaiy briefly to repeat the substance of it. 

Early on the morning of the 8th, the enemy having been ac- 
tively employed the two preceding days in making preparations 
for a storm, advanced in two strong columns on my right and left. 
They were received however, with a firmness which it seems they 
little expected, and which defeated all their hopes. My men, un- 



APPENinS. Iv 

tf tlurbed by their approach, wluch indeed thcf had loog anxioii^- 
ly M'ishecl for, of)eT)ed upon them a ire so del^rate and cerCain* 
as rendered their scaling^ 4addeta and fascineist aathei|i>iiiore direct 
implemeiita of wai&re, perfectly uaeleia. ' Fov« upwards of an 
hour it was continued *wfth a briskness of which there has been 
but few instances, perhaps, in any eouatrjr. In fitstke to the ene- 
ftiy it niuit be said, they withstood it as bn^ as could have 
been expected from the most determined bravery. At length, 
how^^vtirvWfien all j>ro8pects af success became hc^elesa, they 
fted>in ^confusion from, the iiehi»-^4eamg it covered with their 
4ead and wounded. T4ieir loss was immense. 1 had first comr ' 
puted it at fifteen hundred; it is since ascertained to hare been 
much greater. Upon information which is believed to be correct, 
colonel Hayne, this inspector-general, reports it to be in the to- 
tal two thousand six hundredsa His report I enclose you. My 
' loss was inconsiderable being only seven killed and six wounded.* 
Si|ch a disproportion in loss, when we consider the number and 
the kind of troops engaged, must, 1 know, excite astonishment, 
and may not every where, be fully credited; yet I am perfectly 
satisfied that the account ib not exaggerated oa the one part, nor 
underrated on the other. 

The enemy having hastily quitted a post which they had gain- 
ed possession of on the other side of the river, and we having im- 
mediately returned to it, both armies at present occupy their for- 
mer positions. Whether, after the severe loss he has sustained, 
he is preparing to return to his shipping or to make still mightier 
efforts to attain his first object, I do not pretend to determine— it 
becomes me to act as though the latter were his intention. One 
thing, however, seems certain, that if he still calculates on effect- 
ing what he has hitherto been unable to accomplish, he must ex- 
pect considerable re-enforcements; as the force with which he 
landed must undoubtedly be diminished by at least three thousand. 
Besides the loss which he sustained on the night of the 23d ult. 
which is estimated at four hundred, he cannot have suffered less 
between that period and the morning of the 8th inst. than three 
hundred — having, within that time, been repulsed in two general 

* This was in the Action on the line-«<afterwards skinnisbiiig wss kept 
up, in which a few more of eur men were lost. 



iTi APPENDIX. 

attempts to ilme us from our posidon, and tbere having been con« 
tinual cannonading, and skimushing during the whole of it. Yet 
he is still abie to«9how a very formidable force. 

There fslktfe doubt that the commanding geneml, sir Ed« 
ward Packenham, was killed in the action of the Sth^ and that ma* 
jor-generals Kean and Gibbs were badlf wounded. 

Whenever a more leisure moment shall occur, I will take the 

liberty to make out and forward you a more circumstantia) account 

Of the several action^ and particularly that of the Sth;. i» doing 

wliich my chief motive will be to render justice to those biiave 

men I have the honour to command, and who have so remarkably 

distinguished themselves. 

I have the honour to be, Sec. 

Anorkw Jaoksok. 

P. S. A correct list of my Rifled and wounded will be for- 
warded you by the adjutant-genenil. 

Letter from A, P, Hayncj to major-general Jackaorif dated 

Head^uarterMj left dank of the MUsiaaiftfth 

Jive milcM' below AVtp Orlcant^ January 13, 1815. 
Sir, 

I have the honour to make the following report of the killed, 
wounded, and prisoners taken at the battle of Macrardie's plai^ 
tation on the left bank of the Mississippi, on the morning of the 
8th January, 1815, and five miles below the city of ^ew Orleans. 
Killed, TOO 

Wounded, UOO 

Prisoners taken; one major, four captains, eleven 
lieutenants, one ensign, four hundred and eighty-three 
non-commissioned ofHcers and privates, 500 

Making a grand total of 2600 

I have the honour to be. Sec. 

A. P. Hayke. 

Copy of a letter from major-general Jackson to the secretary of 

viar, dated 
Camfijfour miles below AVk' Orleans^ January 19, 18 15. 
Last night, at twelve o'clock, the eneAiy precipitately de- 
cJMnpcd and returned to his boats, leaving behind him, under medi 



APPENDIX. Irii 

cal attendance, eightf of his wounded including two officers, four- 
teen pieces of his heavy artiller|r, and a quanti^ of shot, having 
destroyed much of his powder. Sueh was the situation of the 
ground which he aband(Nied, and of that through which he re- 
tired, protected by canals, redoubts, intrenchments, and swwnps 
on his right, and the river on his left, that I could not without en- 
countering a rbk, which true policy did not seem to require or to 
authorize, attempt to annoy him much on his retreat. We took 
only eight prisoners. ♦ 

Whether it is the purpose of the enemy to abandon the ex- 
peditiou altogether, or renew his efforts at some other point, I do 
not pretend to determine with positiveness. In my own mindj 
however, there .is but little doubt that his last exertions have been 
made in this quarter, at any rate for the present season, and by the 
next I hope we shall be fully prepared for him. In this belief I 
am strengthened not only by the prodigious loss he has sustained 
at the position he has just quiftted, but by the failure of his ^eet 
to pass fort St. Philip. 

His loss on this ground, since the debarkation of his troops, 
as stated by the last prisoners and deserters, and as confirmed 
by many additional circumstances, must have exceeded four thou- 
sand; and was greater in the action of the dth than was estima- 
ted, from the most correct data then in his possession, by the in- 
spector-general, whose report has been forwarded to you. We 
succeeded, on the 8th, in getting from the en^my about one thou- 
sand stand of arms of various descriptions. 

Since the action of the dth, the enemy have been allowed 

very littie respite~-my artillery from both udes of the river be- 

*ing constantly employed till the night, and indeed until the hour 

of their retreat, in annoying them. No doubt they thought it quite 

time to quit a position in which so littie rest could be found. 

I am advised by major Overton, who commands at fort St. 
Philip, in a letter of the 18th, that the enemy having bombarded 
his fort for eight or nine days, from thirteen-inch mortars without 
effect, had on the morning of that day retired I have little doubt 
that he would have been able to have sunk their vessels had they 
attempted to run by. 

h 



Itrii APPENDIX. 

Giving the proper weight to all these conuderatioDs, I belieye 
you will not think me too sanguine in die belief that Louisiana is 
now clear of its enemy. I hope^ however, I need not assure you, 
that wherever I command, such a belief shall never occasion any 
relaxation in the measures for resistance. I am but too sensible 
ihat the moment when the enemy is opposing us, is not the most 
proper to provide for them. 

1 have the honour to be, &c. 

AMnREW JaOKSOH. 

P. S. On the 18th our prisoners on shore were delivered to 
us, an exchange having been previously agreed to. Those who 
are on board the fleet will be delivered at Petit Coquille-*— after 
which I shall still have in my hands an excess of several hundred. 

30th— Mr. Shields, purser in the navy, has to-day taken fifty- 
four prisoners; among them are four officers. A. J. 

Letter from adjutant-general Robert Butler^ to brigadier-general 

Parker J dated 

JSead-guartersy 7th Military district^ jidjutant-gentraVa office^ 

Jackson* 8 LintMybelovf Orleans^ Jan. 16,1815. 
Sir, 

I HAVE t^e honour herewith to enclosf^ for the information of 

the war department, a report of the killed, wounded, and missing 

of the army under the command of major-general Jackson, in the 

different actions with the enemy since their landing. 

I have the honour to be, 8cc. 

iloBSRT Butler. 

Reflort of the kUledf woimded^ and mianng^tf the army under the 
command of major-general Andrew Jaekaon^ in tkt actionB ^ 
the 33<f and 38M of December 1814, and iat and 8M qf Janu^ 
art/yl^lSy with the enemy, 

ACTION or OEOEMBER 2Sd, 1814. 

Killed — Artillerymen, I ; 7th United States' infiwitry, 1 lieu- 
tenant (M'CIellan), 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, 4 privates; 44th do. 7 
privates; general Coffee's brigade volunteer mounted gun-men, I 
lieutenant-colonel (Lauderdale), 1 captain (Pace), 1 lieutenant 
(Samuel Brooks), 2 sergeants, 4 privates.— -Total 24. 

Wownrfffd— General staff, 1 colonel (col. Piatt)— rth United 
States' infantry, I captain (A. A. White), 1 ensign, I sergeant, 2 



APPENDIX. Ux 

corporals, 33 privates; 44th do. 3 lieutenants, 3 sergeants, 2 cor- 
porals, 19 privates; general Coffee's brigade, 1 Gol<Miel, 2Ueuteii- 
ant-colonels, 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 quarter-master sergeant, 
3 sergeants, 2 corporals, 1 musician, 30 privates; Nev Orleans 
volunteer corps^ 1 captain^ 3 sergeants, 7 privates; volunteers of 
colour, 1 adjutant and 6 privatea.«-Total wounded, 115* 

Mwing^^^entrtd Coffee's brigade; 1 major, 2 paptaips, 3 
lieutenants, 1 quarter*ma^er, 3 ensigns or comets, 4 sergeants, 
1 corporal, 2 musicians, 57 privates. — Total missing 74, 

Total killed, wounded, and missing on the 33d«-213. 

ACTIO V OF nftOEMBEa £8th, 1814. 

Killed — General Coffee's brigade^ 1 private; New Orleans 
volunteer company, 1 private; general Carroll's division of Tm^ 
Bessee militia, ^ 1 colonel (Henders<Mi), 1 sergeant, 5 privates*. 
Total 9; 

Wounded — Marines, 1 major (Carmick); New Orleans vo- 
lunteer company, 3 privates; general Carroll's division, 1 lieuten- 
ant, 3 privates. — Total wounded, 8. 

AfMMTijT— None, 

Total killed, wounded, and missing on this day, 17. 

ACTION OT Ist JANUABY, 1815. 

J[^/(<^—> Artillery, navy, and volunteers at batteries, 8 private^ . 
44th ditto, 1 private; general Coffee's brigade, 1 sergeant; gene- 
ral Carroll's division, 1 private.-.-Total U. 

J^ot0Mf«i^-«*Artiirery, navy, and volunteers at batteries, 8; 
7th United States' in&ntry, 1 private; 44th da 3; generalfCoffee** 
brigade, 2; New Orieans volunteers, 3 privates; general Carroll's 
division^ 1 sergeant, 3 privates; volunteers of colour, 1 lieutenant, 
1 sergeant, 1 private^^K^Total 33. 

j&Mn^-^None. 

Total of killed, woundedi and nussing this day, 34. 

AOTIQir OK BOT8 SIDBS THS aiVEft, 8th JAKUART, 1815« 

jn/ZtfcU-^Artillery^navy, and volunteers at batteries, 3 privates^ 
7th United States* infiuitry, I sergeant, 1 corporal; general Cof< 
fee*s brigMte, 1 privste; QarroU's division, t sergeant^ S privates 



Ix APPENDIX. 

Kentucky militia 1 private; majors Lacoste's and Dacquin's vo* 
lanteers of colour^ 1 private; general Morgan's militia, 1 private. 
Total killed, 13. 

^ ' Wounded-^ArtiXifSryy kc. one private; rth Umted States' in- 
&ntry, one private; general Carroll's division, one ensign, one ser- 
geant, six privates; Kentucky militia, one adjutant, one corporalt 
and ten privates; volunteers of colour, one ensign, three sergeants, 
one corporal, eight privates; general Morgan's militia, two ser- 
geants, two privates.— Total wounded, thirty-nine. 

Missing. — Kentucky militia, four privates; Morgan's militia, 
fifteyen privates— Total nineteen. 

Total killed, wounded and missing this day, seventy-one. 

NoTB— Of the killed, wounded and missing on this day, but 
MX killed and seven wounded in the action on the east bank of the 
river, the residue in a sortie after the action, and m the action oh 
the west bank. 

RBOAPlTTJLATIOir. 

Total killed, .... 55 

Total wounded) - - - 185 

Total missing, - - r - 93 

Qrand Total - - - 333 

Truly reported from those on file in this office. 

ROBEET BuTLBR<i 

Letter from Commodore Fatteraon to the Secretary of the J>favy, 

* 

Mcaine b<^t{ery^Jhte wilee betov^evf. Orlearuy l^th January ^ 1815. 
Sir, 

I HAVE thp honour to infiu'm you, that during the ^ and 3d 
in9tanti{ 1 land^ from the ship and mounted, as the former ones, 
on the. banks of the river, four more twelve-pounders, and erected 
a furnace for heating shot, to destroy a number of buildings whiph 
intervened between general Jackson's lines and the camp of the 
enen^y and occupied by him. On the evening of the 4th I suc- 
ceeded in firing a number of them, and some rice stacks by my 
hot shot, which the enemy attempted to es^tingoish, notwithstand- 
ing the heavy fire I Hept up, but which at length compelled them 
to desist. On the 6th and 7th I erected another furnace, ftod 
mounted on the banks of the river two more twenty-^ur pound- 



APPENDIX. , Ixi 

crs, which had been brought up from the English Turn, by th© 
exertions of colonel Caldwell, of the draflicd militia of this state, 
and brought within and mounted on the intrenchments on , this 
side ^e river, one twelve-pounder; in addition to which, general 
Morgan, cotimanding the militia on this side, planted two brass 
six-pound field pieces in his lines, which were incomplete, having 
been commenced only on the 4th; these three pieces were the ^ 
only cannon on the lines, all the others being mounted on the 
bank of the river, with a view to wd the right of general Jack* 
son's lines on the opposite shore, and to flank the enemy should 
they attempt to march up the road leading along the levee, or 
erect batteries on the same, of course could render no aid in 
defence of general Morgan's lines. My battery was manned in 
part from the crew of the ship, and in part by militia detcdled for 
that service by general Morgan, as I had not seamen enough to 
fully man them. 

During greater part of the 7th, reconnoitred the enemy at 
Villerfe's plantation, whose canal, I was informed, they were 
deepening and opening to the river, for the purpose of getting 
their lanches in, which upon examination with my glass I found 
to be true, and informed general Jackson of my observations by 
letters, copies of which I enclose herewith; a re-enforcement to 
general Morgan's mHitia was made in consequence, consisting /^ 
of about four hundred militia fVom Kentucky, very badly armed 
or equipped, the general not having arms to furnish them, who 
arrived on this side on the morning of the 8th much fatigued. 
A At 1 A. M. finding that the enemy had succeeded in lanchlng ^^ 
their barges into the river, I despatched my aid-de-camp, Mr. 
R. D. Shepherd, to inform general Jackson of the circumstance, 
and that a veiy unconmion stir was observed in the enemy's camp 
and batteries on the banks of the river, and stating again the ex- 
treme weakness of this side the river, and urging a re-enforce- 
ment. I would have immediately dropped down with the Louisiana 
upon their barges; but to do so I must have withdrawn all the men 
from the battery on shore, which I deemed of the greatest impor- 
tance, and exposed the vessel to fire by hot shot from the enemy's 
batteries, mounting six long eighteen-pounders, which protected 
their barges; and at this time she had on board a large 'quantity of 



Ixu APPENDIX. 

powder, for the supply of her own guns, and those on shore, moat 
of which was above thejiur&ce of the water, consequently expos- 
ed to their hot shot. , 

General Morgan despatched the Kentuckians immediately 
on their arrival, about 5 A. M. to re-enforce a party wluch bad 
been sent out early on the night of the 7th, to watch and oppose 
the landing of the enemy, but who retreated altera few shot from 
the miemy wi^hm the lines, where tbey were immediately posted 
in their station on the extreme right. At daylight, the enemy 
opened a lieavy canDooad^ upon general Jackson's lines spd my 
battery, leading their troops under coyer of their cannon to the 
assault of the lines, which they attempted on the right and left, b«t 
principally on the latter wing; they were met by a most tremeiH 
dous and incessant fire of artillery and musketry, which comp^* 
led them to retreat with, precipitation; leaving the ditch filled, and 
the field strewed with their dead and woundedY^'ltffbattcry was 
opened upon^ them simultaneously with those from our lines, 
flanking the enemy both in his advance and retreat with round* 
grape and canister, which must have proved extremely destruc- 
tive, as in. their haste ^nd confusion to retreat they crowded the 
top of the levee, affording us a most advantageous <4»portunity for 
the use of grape and canister, which I used to the greatest *advan< 
tage. While thus engaged with the enemy on the opposite shorCf 
I was informed that they had effected their latuling on this side, 
and were advancing to general Morgan's breastwork. I imme* 
dlately ordered the officers in command of my guns to turn them 
in their embrazures, and point them to protect general Morgan's 
right wing, whose lines not extending to the swamp, and those 
weakly manned, I apprehended the enemy's outflanking him on 
that wing; which order was promptly executed by captain Hen-, 
ley and the officers stationed at the battery, under a heavy and weU 
directed fire of shot and shells from the enemy on the oppoeatc^ 
bank of the river. At this time the enemy's force had approach^ 
ed general Morgan's lines, under the cover of a shower of rock-^ 
ets, and charged in despite of the fire from the twelve-pounder 
and field-pieces mounted on the lines as before slated^ when in a 
fow minutes I had the extreme mortification and chagrin to 6b« 
serve general Morgan's right wing, composed s^s herein meofioned 



APPENDIX. IxiH 

dF the Kentucky mifitiay commancled by major Davi^ abandon 
their breastwork and flying in a moat shameful and dastardly 
manner, almost without a shot; which disgraceful example, after 
firing a few roimds, was soon followed by the whole of general 
Morgan's command, notwithstanding every exertkm was made 
by him, his staff and several officers of the city militia, to keep 
them to their posts. By the great exertions 6f those officers a 
short stand was effected on the field, when a discharge of rockets . 
from the enemy, caused them again to retreat in such a manner 
that n» efforts could stop them. 

Finding myself thus abandoned by the force I relied upon to 
protect my battery, I was most reluctantly and with inexpressible 
pain, after destroying my powder and spiking my cannon, com* 
pelled to abandon them, having only thirty officers and seamen 
with me. A part of the militia were rallied at a saw-mill canals 
about two miles above the lines from which they had fled, and 
there encamped. I ordered the liouisianar to . be warped up for 4, 
the purpose of procuring a supply of ammunition, and mounting 
other cannon, remaining myself to aid general Morgan. A large 
re^enforcement of militia having been immecfiately despatched by 
general Jackson to this side, every arrangement was made by ge- 
neral Morgan to dislodge the enemy from has positioD, when he 
precipitately retreated, carrying with him the two field pieces 
and a brass howitz, afier having first set fire to the platforms and 
gun-carriages on my battery, two saw*mills, and all the bridges 
between him and general Morgan's troops^ tfid rtcrossed the 
river, and secured his boats by hauling them into his can^/) On 
the 9th we re-occupied our former groimd, and recovcredall the 
canned in my battery, which I immediately commenced drilling 
and remounting; and on the evening of the 10th had two twen- 
ty-four-pounders mounted and ready for service, on the left flank 
of a new and more advantageous position. From the lOth to the 
present date 1 have been much engaged in mounting my twelve- 
pounders akmg the breastwork erected by general Morgan on 
this new position, having three twet^y-lbur pounders (with a fur- 
nace) to front the river, and flank general Jackson's lines on the 
opposite bank, from which we fired upon the enemy wherever he 
appeared. Our present position is now so stnmg that these is no- 



laSv APPENDIX- 

thing to apprehend should the enemy make another attempt oq 
this side. 

To captain Henley, who ha^ been with me since the destruc- 
tion of his schooner, and who was wowided on the 8th, I am 
much indebted for his aid on every occasion, and to tlie officers 
commanding the different guns in my battery, for their great ex- 
ertions at all times, but t>articularly on the trying event of the 8th. 
The exertions of general Morgan, his staff, and several of the 
officers of the city militia, excited my highest respect, and I deem 
it my duty to saythat had the drafted and city militia been alone 
on that day, that I be t^ve they would have done much better; 
but the flight of the Kentuckians paralized their exertions and 
produced a retreat, which could not be checked. The two brass 
field pieces, manned entirely by nulitia of the city, were admira- 
bly served, nor were they abandoned till deserted by their com- 
rades, one of which was commanded by Mr. Hosmer, of captain 
Simpson's company, the other by a Frenchman, whose name I 
know not. The twelve-pounder under the direction of acting 
midshipman Philibert, was served till the last moment, did great 
execution, and is highly extolled by general Morgan. The force 
of the enemy on this side amounted to one thousand men, and 
from the best authority I can obtain, their loss on this side, I have 
since learned, was ninety-seven killed and wounded; among the 
latter is colonel, Thornton who commanded; of the former five or 
six have been discovered buried, and. lying upon the field; our loss 
was one man killed and several wounded. 

I have the honour to be, &c. 

Daniel T. Pattb&son. 



NO. XXX. 

MdrcBM of the mfijor^general demanding the 7th military district 
to the troops stationed on the right bank of the Misaissifipi. 

January 8, 1815. 

Whilb by the blessing of Heaven directing the valour of the 

troops under my command, one of the . most brilliant victories in 

the annals of the war, was obtained by my immediate command; 

no words oan express the mortification I felt at witnessing tlic 



APPENDIX. Ixv 

sceno exhibited on the opposite bank. I will spare your feelings 
and my own, by entering into no detail on the subject^ to all who 
reflect, it must be a source of eternal regret, that a few moments 
exertion of that courage you certainly possess, was alone wanting to 
hare rendered your success more cbmplete than that of your fellow 
citizens in this camp, by the defeat of the detachment which was 
rash enough to cross the river to attack you. To what cause was the 
abandonment of your lines owing? To fear? Noi You are the coun^ 
trymen, the friends, the brothers of those who have secured to them* 
selves by their courage, the gratitude of their country; who have 
been prodigal of their blood in its defence^is^d who are strangers 
to any other fear than that of disgrace — to disaffection to our glo- 
rious cause? No, my countrymen, your general does justice to the 
pure sentiments by which you are inspired. How then could brave 
men, firm in the cause in which they were enrolled, neglect theiv 
first duty, and abandon the post committed to their care? The wmt 
of discipline, the want of order, a total disregard to obedience, and 
a spirit of msubordination, not less destructive than cowardice it- 
self, this appears to be the cause which led to the disaster, and 
the causes must be eradicated, or I must cease to command; and 
I desire to be distinctly understood, that every breach of orders, 
all want of discipline, every inattention of duty will be serious* 
\y and promptly punished, tha^t the attentive ofiicers, and good 
soldiers may not be mentioned in the disgrace and danger wliich 
«he negligence of a few may produce^ Soldiers! you want only 
the will, in order to emulate the glory of your fellow citizens on 
this bank of the river— -you have the same motives for actioi^ 
the same interest; the same country to protect, and you have an 
additional interest from past events, to wipe off the stain and shotr, 
what, no doubt, is the fact, that you will not be inferior in the day 
of trial to any pf your countrymen. 

But remember, that without obedience, without order, wivht 
out discipline, all your efibrts are vain, and the brave man, inat- 
tentive to his duty, is worth little more to his country than the 
coward who deserts her in the hour of danger. Private opinions, 
as to th,G competency of ofiicers, must not be indulged, and still 
less expressed; it is impossible that the measure of those who 
command should satisfy all who are bound to obey, and one of the 

i 




Ixvi APPENDIX. 

inoBt dangerous faults in a soldier is a disposition to criticise and 
blame the orders and characters of his superiors. Solars! I 
know that many of you have done your duty; and I trust in my 
next address, I shall have no reason to make any exception. Offi- 
cers! I have the fullest confidence that you will enforce obedience 
to your commands, and above all, that by subordination in your 
different grades, you will set the example of it to your men; and 
that hereafter the army of the right will yield to none in the es- 
sential qualities which characterize good soldiers; and that they 
will earn their share of those honours and rewards, which their 
country will prepare for its deliverers. 

AjfDRBW Jaoksok. 

NO. XXXI. 

Provisional articletragreed on between major Smithy authorized by 
major-general Lambert^ and Edward Livingaton^ an aid^de- 
camft to major-general Jackaonj authorized by Mm for that 
fiur*i09€j subject to the ratification qf the reafiective comman- 
dera qfthe two armiea between the linea, January 17, 1815. 
Article Ist. It being understood that admiral- sir Alexander 
Cochrane h^s sent, or will immediately sendtlie American priaan- 
ers, as well of the ^rmy as of the navy, now on board the British 
fleet, to the mouth of the Rigolets, it is agreed that a nominal and 
descriptive receipt shall be given for the same upon bonour, and 
tliatonthe receipt of the said prisoners a number of British pri- 
soners equal in rank and number to those so sent to the Rigolets, 
ti^thei;' with those confined in the British camp, shall be sent to 
the mouth of the river and be received by ships appointed for that 
purpose by the admiral. 

Art. 2d. At the same time all the prisoners now in the Bri- 
tish camp, shall be sent to the American lines, and receipted for 
as above, not to serve until an equal number of English prisoners 
shall be delivered. 

Art. Srd. Officers of equal rank shall be exchanged for equal 
rank, and wounded for wounded, as far as circumstances will per- 
mit* 

EnwARu Livingston. 
H. Smith, Major.. 
I approve and ratify the above arrangement. 

Anorsw Jacksoit. 



APPENDIX. ixvii 

NO. XXXII. 

Letter from major^gtncral Jackson to the secretary at mtar^dated 

H. Q, camfif /our miles below. JV, Orleans y January 19, 1815. 
Sir, 

Last nij^ht at twelve o'clock the enemy precipitately decamp^ 
ed, leaving behind him, under medical attendance, eighty of his 
wounded, including two officers, fourteen pieces of artillery, and 
a considerable quantity of shot, having destroyed much of his 
powder. 

Such was the situation of the ground which he abandonedi 
^nd that through which he retired, protected by canals, redoubts, 
and intrenchments on his right, and the river on his left, that I 
could not, without encountering a risk which true, policy did 
not seem to require or authorize, annoy him much on his retreat. 
We took only eight prisoners. 

Whether it is the purpose of the enemy to abandon the ex- 
pedition altogether, or renew his efforts at some other point, I 
shall not pretend to decide with positiveness; in my own mind, 
however, th6re is very little doubt but his last exertions have 
been made in this quarter, at any rate lor the present season, and 
by the next, if he shall choose to revisit us, I hope we shall be f uj« 
ly prepared for him. In this belief I am strengthened, not only by 
the prodigious loss he sustained at the position he has just quitted, 
but by the failure of his fleet to pass fort St. Philip. His loss 
since the debarkation of his troops, as stated by all the last prison- 
ers snd deserters, and as confirmed by many additional circum- 
stances, exceed in the whole four thousand men, and was greater 
in the action of the 8th, than from the most correct data then in 
his power, was estimated by the inspector-general, whose report 
has been forwarded you. I am more and more satisfied in the 
belief, that had the arms reached us which was destined for us, 
the whole Britbh army in this quarter would, before this time, have 
been captured or destroyed. We succeeded, however, on that 
day, in getting from the enemy about one thousand stand of arms 
of various descriptions. Since that action I have allowed the ene- 
my very little respite. My artillery from both sides of the river, 
being constantly employed till the night and the hour of their re- 



IfviU APPENDIX. 

treat, in annoying them. It was time to quit a position in ndiich 
so little rest could be enjoyed. 

I am advised by major Overton, who commands foit St. Phi- 
lip, in a letter of the iSth, that the enemy having bombarded his 
fort for eight or nine days, with some (hirteen-inch shells, without 
'producing any important effect, had on the morning of that day 
retired. Giving the proper weight to all these consideraUons, I 
believe you will not think me too sanguine in the belief that Lou- 
isiana is now clear of its enemy. 

I hope I need not assure you, however, that wherever I com- 
mand, such a belief shall not occasion any relaxation in the pre- 
parations for resistance. I am but too sensible, that the moment 
when the enemy is opposing us, is not the most proper for making 

9Sff preparajtion. 

I have the honour to be, &c. 

Anprbw Jaoksov. 



NO. XXXIII, 

Lttteffrom majoT'general Jackson to the Rev. AbbS Dubourg, 

H, Q, seventh military dUtrict J January 19, 1815« 
Reverend Sir, 

The signal interposition of Heaven, in giving success to our 
arms against the enemy, who so lately landed on our shores; an 
enemy as powerful as inveterate in his hatred; while it must ex* 
-cite in every bosom attached to the happy government under whicb 
we live, emotions of the liveliest gratitude, requires at the same 
tijne some external manifestation of those feelings. 

Permit me, therefore, to entreat, that you will cause the ser- 
vice of public thanksgiving to be performed in the cathedral, in 
token of the great assistance we have received from tlie Ruler of 
all events, and of K)ur humble sense of it. 

With the greatest respect, 

Andrew Jackson. 



APPENDIX. Ijcix 

NO. xxxrv. 

i ' 

DEFEKOB OF FORT ST. PHILIP. 

JSxtract of a letter from major-general Andrew Jackgouy t0 tht 
secretary of wary dated Head Quarters^ Seventh Milftary Dh* 
trictj JVew Orleans^ \7th February ^ 1815. 

I have the honoui to enclose you major Overton's report of 
the attack of fort St. Philip, and of the manner in which it was 
defended. 

The CQnduct of that officer and of those who acted under 
him, merits, I think, great praise. They nailed their own co- 
lours to the standard and placQd those of the enjero j underneath 
them, determined never to surrender the fort. 

Cofty of a letter from major Ov,erton^ commanding fort St, Philifij 
during' the late bombardment qf it^ to major-general Jackson. 

Fort St. FhiUfif January i9M, 181$. 
Sir, 

On the ,1st of the present month, I received information 
that the enemy intended passing this fort to co-operate with their 
land forces, in the subjugation of Louisiana, and the destruction 
of the city of New Orleans. To effect this with more facility, 
they were first with their heayy bomb-vessels to bombard this 
place into compliance. On the grounds of this information, I 
turned my attention to the security of my command: I erected 
sniall magazines in diiferent parts of the garrison, that if one blew 
up I could resort to another; built covers for my men to secure 
them from the explosion of the shells, and removed the combus- 
tible matter without the work. Early in the day of the 8th in- 
stant, 1 was advised of their approach, and on the 9th at a quarter 
past ten A. TS/t, hove in sight two bomb-vessels, one sloop, one 
brig, and one schooner; they anchored two and a quarter miles 
below. At half past eleven, and at half past twelve they advanced 
two barges, apparently for the purpose of sounding within one and 
a half mile of the fort; at this moment I ordered my water battery, 
imder the command of lieutenant Cunningham, of the navy, to 
open upon them; its well directed shot caused a precipitate re* 



Ixx APPENDIX. 

treat At half past three o'clock, P. M. the enemas bomb-ves- 
sels opened their lire froto four sea-mortars, two of thirteen inches, 
two often, and to my g^reat mortificatioii I fooid they were with-> 
out the effbcdve range of my shot, as numy ftubsequent experi- 
ments proved; they continued their fire with little intermissioo 
during the lOth, tlth,"12th, ISth, Uth, 15th, 16th, and 17th. I 
occasionally opened my batteries on them with great vivacity, 
' particularly when they showed a dispoution to change their po- 
sition. On the 17th in the evening, our heavy mortar was said to 
be in readiness. I ordered that excellent officer captain Wol- 
stonecraft of the artillerists, who previously had charge of it, to open 
a fire, which was done with great effect, as the enemy from that 
moment became disordered, and at daylight on the 1 8th com- 
menced their retreat, after having thrown upwards of a thousand 
heavy shells, besides small shells from howitzers, round shot and 
grape, which he discharged from boats under cover of the nig^t. 

Our loss in this affair has been uncommonly small, owing en- 
tirely to the great pains that was taken by the different officers to 
keep their men under cover; as the enemy left scarcely ten feet of 
this garrison untouched. 

The officers and soldiers through this whole afiair, although 
nine days and nights under arms in the different batteries, the con- 
sequent fiitigue and loss of sleep, have manifested the greatest 
firmness and the most zealous warmth to be at the enemy. To 
distinguish individuals would be a delicate task as merit was con- 
spicuous every where. Lieutenant Cunningham of the navy, whe 
commanded my water battery, with his brave crew, evinced the 
most determined bravery and uncommon activity throughout; 
and in fact, ^sir, the only thing to be regretted is that the enemy 
was too timid to give us an opportunity of destroying him. 

i herewith enclose you a list of the killed and wounded. 

I am, sir, very respectfully, 

W. H. OvKRTOir. 

^ilist of the killed and wounded during the bombardment of fort St. 
PhUi/t^ commencing on the 9th and ending on the 18/A qfJanvr 
«ry, 1815. 

Captain Wolstonecraft's artillery— Wounded 3. 

Captain Murry's artillery— Killed 2; wounded 1 



APPENDIX^ lx*i 



Captain Bronten's infantry— Wounded 1. 
Captain Wade's infantry — Wounded 2. 
Total killed 2; wounded 7. 



NO. XXXV. 



*4n address delfveredto the ' commander4n'Ch%efof the seventh mi" 
litary district^ Tnaj or 'general Andrew Jackson^ at the ceremony 
of solemn thanksgiving^ a/ter^his brilliant defence of Nev> Or^ 
leans. By the reverend fV, Dubourgy administrator afiostolic 
of the diocese of Louisiana. 
Gbnsral, . 

Whilst the state of Louisiana, in the joyful transports of her 
gratitude, hails you as her deliverer, and the ass^rter of her mena- 
ced liberties-— whilst grateful America, so lately wrapped up in 
anxious suspense, on the &te of this important city, the emporium 
of the wealth of one half of her territory, and the true bulwark of 
its independence, is now re-echoing from shore to shore your 
splendid achievements, and preparing to inscribe your name on 
her immortal rolls, among those of her Washingtons — whilst his- 
tory, poetry, and the monumental arts will vie in consigning to. 
the admiration of the latest posterity, a triumph perhaps unpa- 
ralleled in their records— -whilst thus raised by universal accla* 
mation to the very pinnacle of fame and ascending clouds of in- 
cense, how easy it had been for you, general, to forget the prime 
Mover of your wonderful successes, and to assume to yourself a 
praise, which must essentially return to that exalted source whence 
every sort of merit is derived. But better acquainted with the 
nature of true glory, and justly placing the summit of your ambi- 
tion in approving yourself the worthy instrument of Heaven's 
merciful designs, the first impulse of your religious heart was 
to acknowledge the signal interposition (f FrovidencC'^your 
first step is a solemn display oiyour humble sense of His favours » 
Still agitated at the remembrance of those dreadful agonies 
from which we have been so miraculously rescued, it is our 
pride also to acknowledge that the Almighty has truly had the 
principal hand in our deliverance, and to follow you, general, in 
attributing to his infinite goodness the homage of our unfeigned 



IxzU APPENDIX. 

gratitude. Let the infiituated Totaiy of a blind chance deride our 
credulous timplicity; let the cold-hearted atheist look up for the 
explanation of such important events to the mere concatena^on 
of human causes; to us, the whole universe is loud in proclaiming 
ft supreme Ruler, who as he holds the hearts of man in his hanids, 
holds also the thread of all contingent occurrences. " Whatever 
be His intermediate agents,** says an illustrious prelate, " still on 
the secret orders of His all-ruling providence, depend the rise and 
prosperity, as well as the decline and down&ll of empires. From 
His lofty throne above he moves every sc^ne below, now curbing, 
now letting loose the passions of men; now infusing His own wis- 
dom into the leaders of nations; now confounding their boasted 
prudence, and spreading upon their councils a spirit of intoxica* 
tion, and thus executing his uncontrollable judgments on the sons 
of men, according to the dictates of His own unerring justice." 

To Hinif therefore, our most fervent thanks are due for our 
late unexpected rescue, and it is Bim we chiefly intend to praise, 
when considering you, general, as the man ofhia right handy whom 
he has taken pains to lit out for the impoifant commission of our 
defence; we extol that fecundity of genius, by which, in an instant 
of the most discouraging distress, you created unforeseen resour- 
* ces, raised as it were, from the ground, hosts of intrepid warriors, 
and provided every vulnerable point with ample means of defence. 
To Him we trace that instinctive superiority of your mind, which 
at once rallied around you universal confidence; impressed one 
irresistible movement to all the jarring elements of which this 
political machine is composed; aroused their slumbering spirits, 
and diffused through every rank that noble ardour which glowed 
in your own bosom. To Him in fine, we address our acknow- 
ledgments for that consummate prudence which defeated all the 
combinations of a sagacious enem^, entangled him in the very 
snares which he had spread before us, and succeeded in effect- 
ing his utter destruction, without once exposing the lives of our 
citizens. Immortal thanks be to His supreme 'majesty, for send- 
ing us such an instrument of his bountiful designs! A gift of that 
value is the best token of the continuance of his protection — the 
most solid encouragement to us to sue for new favours. The 
Jh-st whichit emboldens us humbly to supplicate as it Is the nearer 



APPENDIX. Ixxiii 

t^ our throbbiDg hearts, is that you maf long enjoy, general, 
the honour of your grateful country, of which you will permit us 
to ]M«8ent you a pledge in this wreath of laurel, the prize of vic- 
tory, the symbol of immortality. The next is a speedy and ho- 
nourable termination of the bloody contest in which we are engage 
ed. No one has so efficaciously labout«d as you, general, for the 
acceleration of that blissful period; may we soon reap .that sweetest 
firuit of your splendid and uninterrupted victories* 

GENERAL /AOKSOK's ANSWER. 

Reverend «ry— I receive with gratitude and pleastlre the sym- 
bolical crown which piety has prepared. 1 receive it in the name 
of the brave men Who have so effectually seconded my exertions 
for the preservation of their country— they well deserve the laurels 
which their country will bestow. 

For myself^ to have been instrumental in the deliverance of 
such a country, is the greatest blessing that heaven could confer. 
That it has been effected with so little loss— tha*t so few tears 
should cloud the smiles of our triumph, and not a cypress leaf be 
interwoven in the wreath which you present, is a source of the 
most exquisite enjoyment. 

I thank you, reverend sir, most sincerely for the prayers 
which you offer up for my happiness. May those your patriotism 
dictates for our beloved country, be first heard. And may mine 
for your individual prosperity as well as that of the congregation 
committed to your care, be favourably received — ^the prosperity, 
the wealth, the happiness of this city, will then be commensurate 
with the courage and other qualities of its inhabitants. 



NO. XXXVI. 

To Mchoias Girodi ^^9* Mayor qf tike City qf Kev» Orleans* 

Head^quartersy 7th military district ^ January 37, 1815. 
Sir, 

Deeply impressed since my arrival with the unanimity and 

patriotic zeal displayed by the citizens over whom you so worthily 
preside, I should be inexcusable if any other occupation than that 

k 



Ixxiv AiPPEMlMX. 

6t pVovidiUg: ibr thei^ defence hgd prevented taf pvSa^ etckMw- 
ledgment of their inerits. I praf you now^ sir» to tomtnutiieate to 
the inhabitants of yxmr respectable city, the eulted Mose I ente? * 
tain of their patriotism, k>ve of order^ and attachment to the prat- 
ciples of our excellent constitution. The courage they have shown 
in a period of no common danger, atid ^ fortitude with which 
they have rejected all the apprehensions which the vicinity of the 
enemy was calculated to produce, are not more to be admired than 
their humane attention to our own sick and wounded, as well as 
to those of that description among the prisoners. The liberality 
with which their representatives in the city council provided for 
the families of those who were in the field, evinced an enlightened 
humanity, and was productive of the most beneficial effects. Sel- 
dom in any community, has so much cause been given for de- 
served praise; 'while the young were in the field, and arrested the 
progress^ of the foe, the aged watched over the city, and ihain- 
tained its internal peace; and even the sohtt sex encouraged their 
husbands and brothers to remain at the post of danger and duty. 
Not content with exerting for the noblest purpose that powerful 
influence which is given them by nature (and which in your coun- 
trywomen is rendered irresistible by accomplishments and beauty) 
they showed themselves capable of higher efforts, and, actuated 
by humanity and patriotism, they clothed by theilr own labour, and 
protected from the inclemency of the season the men who bad 
marched from a distant state to protect them from insults. In the 
name of those brave men, I beg you, sir, to convey to them the 
tribute of our admiration and thanks; assure them that the distant 
wives andldaughters of those whom they have succoured will re- 
member them in their prayers; and that for myself no circum- 
stance of this important campaign touches me with more exqui- 
site pleasure than that 1 have been enabled to lead back to them, 
with so few exceptions, the husbandS) brothers, and other rela- 
tives of whom such women only are worthy. 

1 anticipate, sir, with great satisfiEiction, the period when the 
final departure of the enemy will enable you to resume the ordi- 
tiaery functions of your office, and restore the ckisens to their usual 
occupadons^they have merited the blesshigs of peace by bravely 
facing the dangers of war. 



APPENDIX. Iwv 

t 

I should be ungrateful or iii9&iiflible, if I dujf aol acknowledge 
the marks of cooSdeace and aflfectioiiate attachment with which I 
have personallf been honoured by your citizens; a confideupe that 
has enabled me with greater success to direct tltie measures for 
their defence^ an attachment which I sincerely reciprocate, and 
which i shall carry with me to tlt^e grave. 

For yourself) Mr. Mayor, I (>ray you to accept my thanks for 

the \(^ great zeal, integrity, and diligence with jHrhich, you have 

conducted the arduous depajrtnsent of the police conmiitted .to 

• yojur care, and the promptitude with which every requisitipn for 

die public service has been carried into effect 

Connected with the United States, your city must become the 
greatest emporium of commence that the world has known. In 
, the hand^ of any other power it can be nothing but a wretched 
colonjr. May your citizens always be as sensible of this great 
truth as they have shown themselves at present; may they always 
make equal efforts to preserve the important connexion, and may 
you, sir, long live to witness the prosperity, wealth and happiness 
that will then inevitably characterize the great seaport of the 
western world. 

I have the honour to be, be. 
(Signed) ANnaBW Jaokson. 



NO. XXXVII. 

Letter from govemcr Claidame 4o major'general Thomae, 

Nev) OrUatfy Ptbrtuay 25/A, 1815. 
5iJi, 

I HAVB the honour to enclose you a resolution of the general 
assembly of Louisiana, from which you will perceive the grateful 
sense which is entertained of the services rendered to this state, 
<< by our brave brother soldiers from Tennessee, Kentucky and the 
Mississippi Territory, and their gallant leaders." 

It is the pride of America to see her brave defenders guide 
the plough or front her enemies, as the national interest and safety 
shall advise.^ To such citizen soldiers do we chiefly commit the 
protection of lOur dea^st rights—the defence of our beloved coun- 



Ixxxfl APPENDIX. 

try: and that we may continue to do so, and with confidence^ the 
glorious termination of the campaign in which you hare borne a 
distinguished part, affords a pleasing proof. From the prospect 
now before us, we may be permitted to hope, sir, that the calm of 
peace will soon authorize you to rest from the toils of war, and to 
lead back your, patriotic division to their femilies and friends. . 
The best wishes of the Louisianians will always accompany you 
and them. The spirit of union, of mutual affection and confidence, 
which now happily exists between the people of this state and their 
brothers of the sister states, wilf, I trust, be forever cherished— it 
is the siirest pledge of our national glory. 

I tender to you, sir. 

The assurances of my respectful attachment, 

(Signed) Wm. C. C. Claiborne. 

ANSWER. 

Camfi Dufirey tvfo miles below JVew Qrleane^ Feb. ^7 thy 1815. 

.Sir, 

Through the politeness of colonel Fortier I had the honour 
of receiving yours of the 25th inst enclosing the resolution of the 
general assembly of the state of Louisiana, which I have had pub- 
lished to the troops under my command. Next to the pleasure 
derived from a consciousness of having discharged our duty, must 
be that which arises from the testimonials of gratitude conferred 
upon us by our brothers in arms, who alike with us, shared the 
dangers of the field, and the toils and hardships of the camp; and 
for the protection of whom we have left our homes and wives, our 
children, our friends, and every thing dear to us, and for whom we 
cherish that brotherly love and affection which is the cement of 
the union, and which alone endears man to man' and state to state 
For myself and my division, permit me to tender you and the ho- 
nourable legislature of tiie state of Louisiana, an assurance of the 
grateful sensations we feel for the honour they have conferred 
upon us; and for myself accept, dear sir, the highest sentiments of 
esteem from 

Yours very respectfully, 

John Thomas, 



APPENDIX. lxxi(6 

Letter from govjemor Claihomc to majors-general Carrol. 

Mv> Orleans^ February ^6thj 1815. 
Siu, 

I TAKE great pleasure in cominumcating to you a resolution 
of the general assembly of this state, expressive of gratitude and 
thanks to you and your gallant comrades, ^' for the brilliant share 
they have had in the defence of Louisiana, and the happy harmony 
they have maintained with the inhabitants and militia of this state." 

Under a leader, young in years, but old in deeds of valour, 
our brethren of Tennessee hastened to our relief; they arrived in 
tune to participate in all the conflicts with the advancing foe, and 
greatly to contribute to his final overthrow. It must be pleasing 
to you, to contemplate the present comparative security of Loui- 
siana* It cost you and your brave associates some toilsome days 
and watchful nights. But it is not to the gratitude of this state 
only, that you have acquired a title. The whole union must feel 
indebted to those whose faithful services have conduced to the 
preservation of one of its important members. 
I tender to you, sir, &c. 
(Signed) Wm. C. C. Claibormb. 

ANSWER. 

Camfi Henderson^ above ^evf OrleanSf March 2, 1815. 
Sir, 

I BAD the honour of receiving your letter of the 24th ult 

coTering the resolution of the legislature of the state of Louisiana, 
expressing in a very flattering manner their thanks to the troops 
of Tennessee, and to me individually, for the share we have taken 
in the defence of this country. ' 

I hope you will convey to the legislature the grateful senti* 
ments with which I am impressed for the honour done me and 
the troops whom I command. 

I cannot withhold the expressions of gratitude due to the 
people of New-Orleans foit their benevolence in furnishing our 
suffering soldiers with warm clothing during the inclemency of 
winter, and at a time when the enemy were before our works. 

They have administered to our sick and wounded every 
friendly attention} and extended to them all the rights of humanity. 



iMviii . APPENDIX. 

The bright beams of peace appear ready to burst around 
usy and I hope soon to offer to you and the people of this country 
my congratulations for this g^rioua event. 

If the report of peace be correct, the presence of the Ten* 
nessee arms will be no longer necessary, and our soldiers in re- 
turning home, will carry with them the impressions of friendship 
to the citizens of this country, which I hope may be cherished as 
their intercourse becomes more frequent, and perpetuated as long 
aft the Mississippi continues to flow. 

I offer you the salutations of my friendly esteem, 

Wm. Carroll, 
Maj, Gen. Com. Div. Term. jMUiHa. 

Letter from governor Claiborne to general Adair. 

Nevf Cfrl&an$y February ^StA, 1815. 
Sir, 

To a soldier who has done his duty in all the conflicts in 

which his country has been involved, from the war of independ- 
ence to the present moment, it must be matter of great exulta- 
tion to notice the valour and firmness of the children of his old 
friends— to be convinced that they are the true descendants of the 
original stock. That the young men of your brigade should have 
looked up to you in the hour of battle, as their guide and their 
fihield,4s only a continuation of that confidence which their fathers 
had in a chief whose arm had so often, and so successfully, been 
raised against the foe. The enclosed resolution of the general 
assembly of Louisiana, will show you the high sense which is en- 
tertained in this state of your services, and those of your brothers 
in arms. Be towards them the vehicle of our sentiments, and re- 
ceive for yourself, the assurances of my respect, and best wishes 
for your health and happiness. 

(Signed) Wm. C. p. Claiborke. 

ANSWER. 

Camfi JDttfirtj February 36«A, ltl5. 
Sir, 

I HAVE the honour of acknowledging the receipt of your ex- 
cellency's note of yesterday (politely handed, by colonel iioblanc) 



AFPENOIX. Ixux 

iicIdBing a resolutioii of the legislature of the state of Lom3iaiia, 
generously awardmg die thanks of the state to the fniiitia from 
her sister stales, who aided in the late successful struggle to ex- 
pel a powerful iDvading enemy from her shores. 

To a proud American^ citizen or soldier, the consciousness 
of having faithfully discharged his duty to his country, must ever 
be his highest and most lasting consolation. But when to this is 
added the approbation, the gratitude of the wisest, the most re- 
spectable part of the community, with whom and under whose eye 
it has been his fortune to act, it will ever be esteemed, not only 
the highest reward for his services, but the most powerful incen* 
tive to his future good conduct. 

Accept, sir, for the legislature, my warmest acknowledg- 
ment for the honourable mention they have made of the corps to 
which I belong; and for yourself the esteem and respect so justly 
due from me for your polite and highly interesting note of coni- 
fiiuaications, and my best wishes for your health and happiness. 
(Signed) John Anxia. 

. Letter from governor Claiborne to general Coffee. 

Jfew OrleanMj Ftbrtutrftsth^ 1815^ 
Sir, 

,It affords me the greatest .pleasure to enclose jfw a. p«|q1u«i 
tion of the general assembly of Louisiana^ acknowleflgiQg the 
faithful and useful services of our weslem brothers,|fuad. tendering 
their thanks to you among other distinguished officjera. , . 

The love of country, which induced you to change tibe calsa 
of domesdc life for the privadpns incident to a camp, is nali^ssagp^ 
dent in the brave volunteers whom you lead, than the gratitude 
which the people of Louisiana bear towards you and them; a Iferoic 
band, whose firmness in the field has alike contributed to, avert 
from our settlements the horrors of an Indi^ wari^u^^.and to the 
entire defeat and discomfiture of the powerful fee, who so arro-^ 
gantly menaced the safety of this great and growing city^ 

Receive for yourself, and be towards your companions in 
arms, the organ of expressing my highest confidence and sincerest 
good will. 

(Signed) Wm. C. C. Claibobve. 



l»x APPENDIX. 

ANSWER. 

♦ 

Catnti Coffee, near J^eno Oriemaf March i^A, 1815; 
Sir, 

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 

of the 25th ult. and the resolution it enclosed of the legislature of 

Louisiana, presenting the thanks of that honourable body, to their 

brother soldiers from the west, for ^ the share they have taken in 

the defence of this country, and the harmony they have maintained 

with the inhabitants and militia of the state." 

To know that we have contributed, in any degree, to the pre- 
servation of our common country, is tq myself and the brave men 
under my immediate command the most pleasing reflection. To 
have received so flattering and distinguished a testimonial of our 
services adds to the pleasure which that consciousness alone 
would have afforded. 

While we indulge the pleasing emotions that are thus pro- 
duced, we should be guilty of great injustice, as well to merit as 
to our own feelings, if we withheld from the commander-in-chief, 
to whose wisdom and exertions we are so much indebted for our 
successes, the expression of our highest admiration and applause. 
To his firmneaa, his skill, his gallantry — ^to that confidence and 
unanimity among all ranks produced by those qualities, we must 
chiefly ascribe the splendid victdHes in ^thich we esteem it a hap- 
piness and an honour to have borne a parti 

We enter with sensibility into the feelings of the legislature, 
and of your- excellency, on occasion of the harmony which has been 
so happily preserved with the inhabitants and militia of the stat&— 
May the same spirit of brotherhood always unite us when con- 
tending against a common enemy in defence of our best rights. 

I tender the assurances of my own and of my companions* 
thanks, for the distinguished manner in which you and the legis- 
lature have been pleased to notice and honour our exertions. 
I have the honour to be, sir. Sec. 
(Signed) John Coffee, 

Bri^, Gen. T. F. M, G. Men. 



APPENDIX. Ixxxi 

Letttr from gtroemor Claibomt to colonei Hindi. 

JVeto Orleansy February 26thj 1815. 
• Sir, 

Thk enclosed vote of thanks of the general assembly of Lou« 
isiana, which I now have the honour to transmit you, brings to my 
recollection the satisfaction I experienced more than twelve years 
ago, on signing the commission which ushered your military ta* 
lents into light. At that early period of your life, the highest 
hopes of your future usefulness were entertained by your friends^ 
and to them and to you it must be alike pleasing to know that 
these hopes have been fully realized. Your gallant conduct, and 
that of the corps under your command during the last campaign} 
was indeed "^ the astonishment of one army and the admiration of 
the other." It will be gratefully remembered by your country, 
and has afforded for me an occasion to renew to you the assurances 
of my respect and esteem* 

(Signed) Wm. C. C. CtAiBo&NSr 

ANSWEB. 

Cavalry Camft^ above Mfw Orleans j February 98M, 1815. 
Sir, 

I HAVE have had the honour to receive your communication 
covering a vote of thanks from the general assembly of the state 
uf Louisiana. The very handsome terms in which your excel* 
lency and the general assembly have thought proper to speak of 
the humble efforts of the corps which it has been my good fortune 
to command, cannot be otherwise than acceptable to their feelings 
and flattering to their pride, for which we are more indebted to 
your excellency's partiality than to any extraordinary merit of our 
own, and which we are well aware consists principally in a great 
share of zeal for our country's service, kindled into action by the 
presence of a base and brutal invader. That the same unity of 
sentiment which gave force to our arms may continue, and that 
the people of Louisiana may long enjoy the substantial benefits 
fcsulting from the late most glorious conflict,' in which they sp 
honourably shared, is confidently to be expected and devoutly te 
be wished. 

\ 



UxxU APPENDIX. 

Accept, %ivy for yourself^ and through jour excellency I ten* 
der the thanks of the corps I have the honour to command, for 
the honourable testimony borne of its services, and at the same 
time assurances of my individual respect and esteem. 

(Sig^ned) Tro: Hinds, 

Lieut. Col. Com. Vol. Cavalry. 



NO. XXXVIII. 

letter from general John Lambert to major general Jackson. 

February Bthy 1815. 
Sir, 

1 am just favoured with your letter, of the 4th. I can assure 
you that every American prisoner that was present when I em- 
bkrked on board the Tonnant has been sent into the Rigolets, and 
sir A. Cochrane has taken steps for the arrival of an equivalent 
number to the British prisoners now with you. 

Under any circumstances I positively promise that your libe- 
rality shall ixit be in any way but reciprocal on my part, and I will 
not lose sight for a moment of hastening, if il is possible, the arrival 
of American prisoners, especially those who were taken on the 
14th December last. 

I am obliged to you for the allowing of two British officers 
to return on parole, and what you intimate on the subject shall bcr 
assented to. 

What I said respecting the slaves regard those that I could 
not prevent coming to us when I was on shore. I am not at the 
anchorage where Mr. Livingston and Mr. White have been re- 
ceived; and indeed i have nothing to say to it. I did all I could 
to persuade them to return at tlie time, but not one was willingt 
as will be testified by Mr. Celestin, a proprietor whom 1 had de* 
tained until the British forces had evacuated their last position: 
this gentleman saw the slaves that were present, and did all he 
could to urge them to go back. 

I am, sir, your very obedient servant, 
(Signed) John Lambert. 



Letter from admiral Cochrane to generalJaek^on. 

H. B. M. Mp Tohnantj off MotUe Bay^ \^th February^ 1815. 
SiE» 

In consequence of the style which captain Patterson thought 
proper to adopt in a letter that he addressed to me on the 23d 
Januar3r(acopy of which 1 beg leave to inclose) with some remarks 
upon the margin, I find mjiself precluded from making him any 
reply thereto, or of holduig with that officer any further corre- 
spondence. 

But to prevent our respective prisoners suffering any unne- 
cessary detention, I do myself the honour to communicate to you, 
that in order to fulfil the agreement for an exchange of prisoners, 
entered into by major Smith (aid-de-camp to major general Lam- 
bert) upon the 37th ultimo, I sent his majesty's ship Nymphe 
to the Havanna^ to receive from his majesty's ship Ramilies oiie 
hundred of the American prisoners taken in the gun-vessels, 
which she had carried to sea. 

These, with five seamen, who, for the purpose of, being exa- 
mined in the vice-admiralty court respecting the capture of the 
gun-vessels, I have been obliged to send to Bermuda, but who are 
to be returned the moment the leg^l forms have been complied 
with, will complete the number of American prisoners which have 
to be accounted for by the British forces under the agreement of 
the 17th ultimo, and they shall be forwarded to you without any 
delay so soon as they arrive in the squadron. 

As it has been found very inconvenient, the sending of ves- 
sels to the Rigolets (those last sent not having yei returned, and 
are reported to be on shore) colonel Livingston and myself have 
agreed that the prisoners expected in the Nymphe shall proceed 
to the mouth of the Mississippi, and be delivered to the officer 
commanding at Plaquemines. 

Having; by this arrangement fulfilled the stipulations of our 
before-mentioned treaty, in which we agreed to the restoration of 
all the prisoners that our forces had made before we received from 
you any British prisoners, it is but just that you should follow the 
same principle with respect to the prisoners who have fallen into 
our hands by the surrender of Fort Bowyer, all of whom major 
general Lambert and myself are ready to exchange as they stand 



Ixxxiv APPENDIX. 

upon the lists (copies of which are inclosed) for snch Bridsh pii* 
soners as you may cause to be delivered at the mouth of the Mis- 
sissippi, after the first account has been finally settled. And on 
my part, I will engage to send to the same place an equivalent of 
American prisoners, so soon as I am informed of the number and 
qualities of the British prisoners received. 

I have the honour to be, sir, &c. 
(Signed) Albx. Coohrahb. 

Letter from admiral Cochrane to general Jackson, 

H. B. M shift Tonnanty off Mobile Bay, ISth February ^ 1815. 
Sir, 

I HAVB exceeding satisfaction in sending to you a copy of a 
bulletin that I have this moment received from Jamaica, proclaiming 
that a treaty of peace was signed between our respective plenipo- 
tentiaries at Ghent, on the 34th December, 1814, upon which I 
beg leave to offer you my sincere congratulations. 
I have the honour to be, sir, &c. 
(Signed) Alex. Cooh&anb. 

Letter from general John Lambert to general Jackson, 

Head' Quarters^ British Jrmyy February \9thy 1815. 
Sir, 

* I AM just informed by admiral Malcolm that the American 
prisoners made on the 14th of December are arrived in the ileeti 
«nd that they will sail immediately for the Mississippi, as it was 
settled with colonel Livingston, aid-de-camp. 

1 confidently trust there will be now no impediment to an 

equal number of British prisoners being immediately returned to us. 

I beg leave to congratulate you on the prospect of peace, and 

hope I shall soon have to communicate to you the notice of tht 

ratification being exchanged. 

I have the honour to be, sir, Sec. 
(Signed) John Lambert; 



APPENDIX. iMXT 

Letter firom general Jaek^on to adnUrmi CacMme* 

ffead'Quartersy 7th Military District ^ J^ew Orleans j 
Sib, /February 20M, 1815. 

I AM honoured by your letter of the 1 3th instant, by the return 
of my flag) inclosing a copy of commodore Patterson's to you, 
"with some marginal strictures on its contents. The navy and mi- 
litary departments in our service being totally independent, I am 
not permitted to defend, still less to censure the conduct or cor- 
respondence of that officer at the bead of the former; his distin« 
guished merit, and general correctness of conduct, make it pre- 
sumable that he will be able to justify his proceedings to the go- 
vernment, to whom alone he is accountable. 

On the subject of the exchange, your assurance that the one 
hundred men sent off in the Ramiiies, as well as the five detabed 
for the condemnation of the gun-boats, will be delivered on their 
return, is satisfactory to myself and to commodore Patterson; and 
I now despatch all the prismiers in a situation to be removed as 
by the enclosed list: the residue, to the amount of ' ■ ' ■ 
now at Natchez, are sent for, and will be forwarded )to the Balize 
as soon as they shall arrive. 

You will perceive by this, sir, that I perfectly acquiesce in 
the propriety of your remark, that justice requires me to ibliow 
the example of confidence given by yourself and general Lambert, 
in the delivery of the prisoners belonging to my army previous to 
the receipt of those taken from you, a confidence always mutually 
due from enemies who respect each other, and peculiarly proper 
between those who, in the probable course of events, may soon 
cease to be such. 

There is another subject, on which a passage in general Lam«^ 
bert's last letter renders it necessary for me to address you; I 
mean that of the negroe slaves belonging to several inhabitants 
on the Mississippi, now in your fieet«« I had written to general 
Lambert on this head two successive letters, in consequence of 
his informing me that these persons would be delivered to their 
masters on their application. To the first I received no answer, 
to the last I am informed that general Lambert ^ has nothing to 
do with it,*' Mr. White, to whom an order was given to receive 
such as were wiUing to return to their masters} having reported 



UucxVi ATPSNDIX 

to me tkal h€ feftod several who were ready to aecompiny him, 
but that he was not permitted to tak:e them; I am now obliged, nr, 
explicitly to ask whether the property thus taken is intended to be 
restored, and if it be, that a time and place may be appointei for 
its delivery. 

The prisoners from Natchez will arrive in less than ten day^ 
they will immediately sail for the Balize, and it is hoped that the 
prisoners taken at fert Bowyer may meet them there, to be con- 
veyed back in the same vessels. 

I have the honour to be, sir, 8cc. 
(Signed) Avdkew Jacksok. 

Letter from general Jaek9<m to admiral Cochrane. 

Head^QiOirterMy 7th Mttitary DUirUty JVe^ OrlemUf 
Sx&, SUr February y IS 15. 

I RAVB the honour to acknowledge the receif^ of yofor letter 
of the 13thinatant. It came to hand only this day by the way of the 
Balize, though purportfaig to hAve been sent by my aid-de-camp, 
Mr. Livingston, who arrived two days kihce from your fleet, and 
who, from a conversation he had with you, was disappointed in not 
fihding it inclosed in the deftpatch he brought. 

I sincerely reciprooKbe your oongratulatt<»8 oh the important 
everit yofi announced to me, that a treaty of peace has been signed 
between our two countries. This commiinicatiDn, connected with 
all expression in the bulletin you inclose, that captain Stirling of 
lua majeibty*s diip Brazen was charged with despatches announ- 
cing the termination of hoatiiides between Oreat Britain and Ame- 
rica, naturally leads to an inquiry, how far you consider this event 
as authorizing and requlrinj^^ a cessation of hostilities between the 
military and naval forces of Oreat Britain and those of the United 
States in tkia district* 

The prisbiiers Mi my ^bssession at this place will sail for the 
Balize at eight o^clock oh the morning bf to-morrow. Those at 
Natchez, upward^ of a hundred in number, will be forwarded to 
the same place as soon as they arrive here. They have been or- 
dered down, and are expected shortly. 

I have the hoifour to be, 8cc. 
(Signed) \ AMb&aw JAOKtoir. 



ABBEStDlSL Ixxxvii 

N0« XXXIX. 

Letter from brigadier general Winchester to the ^(icretary af War. 

Mobile^ February 1 7th^ 1615. 
SxR» 

It becomes my dutf tx> commumpate to you the unpleaaant 
news of the loss oC Fort Bo wy er. It .was closely invested by laiidt 
ai wel^ as water, on the Stb inst. On Ihe 10th and 1 1th, passed 
a detacbmeiit. over the bay with a view to divert the enemy from 
his object: but it arrived about twenty-four hours too late, tboughi 
time enough to capture one of the enemy's barges witjix seventeen 
sejEmei)) who si^y the gs^rison capitulated on the 1 3th; that the be* 
siegers had advanced their works on the land side to within certaia 
musket shot of the fort; that the loss on either side in killed is Iq- 
considerable. I am in possession of no other account but that 
which com^s from the prisoners. About thirty of the enemy's 
vessels^ besides boats and barges, are lying within the bar, and 
above Mobile Point, and several ships of the line on the south and 
west of Dauphin island. The wind is fiEur, and I ei^pect the ho^ 
Hour of seeing them here every night; if I do, I have ^ at confi- 
dence my next will be on a pleasanter subject. 
I have the honour to be, &c, 

J. WiNeHBSTSR, 

Brig, Gen. Com. £. Sec. 7th Mil. Lis. 

p. S. The garrison consisted of about three hundred and 

sixty men, including officers. Three small schooners, in which. 

the detachment was transported pver the bay, w^ere captured by. 

the enemy's bar^s after the troops had, landed. 

Letter from lieutenant colonel Lawrence to general Jackson. 

Fort Bowyerj February 12M, 1815. 
Sia, 

txnperious necessity has compelled me to en|er into articles 

of capitulation with major general John Lambert, commanding 

his Britannic majesty's forces in front of Fort. Dowyer, a copy of 

wldch I forward you for the purpose of effecting an immediate 

exchange of prisoners. Nothing but the waiitof provisions, and' 

finding my^^lf • completely surrounded, by thousanda— batteries^ 



IxxsTili APPENDIX. 

erected on the sand-moonds wfaioh completely coamanded tbe 
, fort — and the enemy having advanced^ by regular approachesi 
within thirty jrards of the ditches, and the utter impossibility of 
getting any aasiatance or supplies, would have induced me to 
adopt this measure. Feeling confident, and it being the unani'- 
moua opinion of the.olRceray that we could not retain the post, and 
that the lives of many valuable officers and soldiers would have 
been uselessly sacrificed, I thought it most desirable to adopt this 
plan. A full and correct statement will be furnished you as early 
as possible. 

Captun Chamberlin, who bears thift to £. Livingston, Esq* 
will relate to him every particular, which willy I hope, be aatiafac* 
lory. 

I am, with respect, kc. 
(Signed) W. Lawrehqb, 

Lieut. CcLC^m^g. 

ARTICLES OP CAPITULATION 

Jigreed u/ion between lieutenant colonel Ldmrence and major ge* 

neral Lambert for the surrender of Port Bowyer^ on the Mo" 

bile Pointy Uth Pebruary^ 1815. 

I . That the fort shall be surrendered to the arms of his Bri« 
tannic majesty in its existing state as to the works, ordnance^ am- 
munition, and every species of military stores.' 

3. That the garrison shall be considered as prisoners of war» 

the troops marching out with their colours flying and dnims beat- 

ingy and ground their amis on the glacis — the officers retaining 

- their swords, and the whole to be embarked in such ships as the 

British naval commander in chief shall appoint. 

3. All private property to be respected. 

4. That a communication shall be made immediately of the 
same to the commanding officer of the 7th mUitary district of t&e 
United States^ and every endeavour made & effect an early ex- 
change of prisoners. 

5. That the garrison of the United States remi^ bl the fort 
until twelve o^clock to-morrow, a British guard being put in pos- 
session of the. inner gate at. three o'clock to-day, the body of the 
guard remaining oa the glacis^ and that the British flag be hoisted 



APPENDIX. l«x«i 

at the same time— an officer of each service remaining at the head^ 
Quarters of each commander until the fulfilment of these articles. 
H. C. SMITH) major and tnUitmy Bccretary. 
V^greed on the part of the royal nayy, 

T. H. BiOKKTTs, Cafit, H. M. shift Vengeant. 
R. Chambs&laiN) 2d Regt. U. 8. Infantry. 
Wm. Lawrbnce, Zt. Col, 3d Inf*y. Com*g. 
Approved, 

A. C00B&ANB9 Com. in Chi^H. M. Shiftfting. 
John laAUBRKTi major general commanding, 
A true copy—- Test, 

John Reid, Aid^de^Camp, 



NO. XL. 

GSNBRAL ORDERS. 

Head^Quartersj Western Section^ 7th Military Districl^ 
Assistant Adjutant 'General* s Office y JVew Orleian^ 
Aftnl 7thy IS\5. ^ 

At the request of lieutenant-colonel William Lawrence, of 
tfie 2d regiment United States' infantry, a court of inquiry wi^ 
ordered on the 25th ultimo to assemble in this city, to inquire into 
the conduct of the, lieutenant-colonel touching the defence and 
surrender of fort Bowyer, and to give an opinion therdon. The 
court, whereof lieutenant colonel Arbuckle was president, major 
Peyre and captaui Humphrey members, commenced its proceed* 
ings on the 38th March last, and condnued by adjournment from 
day to day up to the 5 th instant^ when it delivered the following 
opinion: 

<^ The court of inquiry, after mature deliberation, are of opi- 
nion that fort Bowyer was defended in the best manner that the 
circumstances of the siege admitted of— «that the conduct of colo- 
nel Lawrence oq that occasion was honourable and becoming a 
good ofiicer— that the fort, when it was surrendered, was in a situ- 
ation which rendered a longer defence impracticable, and that 
DO blame ought to attach, either to colonel Lawrence or to the 
garrison, /or having surrendered fort Bowyer at the tiipe they dW/* 

m 



xc APPENDIX. 

The major-general feels much pleasure in observmgy that 
the whole of the testimony in tiiis case, and paiticularly that of 
major Woodruff of the 3d infantry, lieutenant Alexis of the navy, 
and major Chamberlain and captain Brownlow of the 2d in&ntry, 
(the two former as to the/io^Uion and strength of fort Bowyer, and 
the two latter as to the afifiroachts fifthe enemy and the defence <j/" 
thefcrt) fully support the o^nion of the court of inquiry in favour 
of lieutenant-colonel La.^rence. 

The court of mquiry, whereof lieutenant-colonel Arbuckle is 
president, is dissolved. 

E. P. Gainbs, major-general commanding^ 



NO. XLI. 

jiddreBB of general JackBon to the Soldiers and Citizens at 

^ew Orleans. 

Head' Quarter 8 y 7th Military District^ AVw Orleans^ 

\9th February^ 1815.- 
Fellow-citizkms and soldiers, 

The flag-vessel which was sent to the enemy's fleet has re- 
turned, and brings with it intelligence, es^tracted from, a London 
paper, that on the 24th of December articles of peace were signed 
at Ghent, by the American commissioners and those of his Bri- 
tannic majesty. 

We must not be thrown into false security by hopes that may 
be delusive. It is by holding out such that an artful and insidiousi 
enemy too often seeks to accomplish what the utmost exertions 
of his strength will not enable him to effect. To place you off 
your guard and attack you by surprise, is the natural expedient 
of one who, having experienced the superiority of your arms, slill 
tiopes to overcome you by stratagem— Though young in the 
^ trade" of war, it is not by such artifices that he will deceive us. 

Peace, whenever it shall be re-established on &ir and honour* 
able terms, is an event in which both nations ought to rejoice; but 
whether the articles which are said to have been signed for its 
restoration will be approved by those whose province it is to give 
to them their final confirmation, is yet uncertain* Until they shall 
be ratified by the prince regent and the president of the United 



APPENDIX. zci 

StatAs, peace, though so much desired, may be still distant. 
When that shall be done, the happy intelligence wilL be publicly 
and speedily announced. In the mean time, every motive that 
can operate on men who love their country, and are determined 
Bot to lose it, calls upon us for increased vigilance and exertion. 

If peace be near at hand, the days of our watchfulness, of our 
loilsvknd our privations, will be proportionably few; if it be distant, 
we shall at any rate hasten its arrival, by being constantly and 
every where prepared for war. 

Whatever be the designs of the enemy, we must be ready td 
meet them^. Should they have the temerity to assail us again, we 
will once more drive him ignominiously from our shore; if he 
places his hopes of success on stratagem, our watchfulness will 
dbappoint him; if on an exertion of his strength, we have proved 
how successfully that can be rensted. 

It is true foil Bowyer has fallen, but it must and will be 

speedily regained. We will expel the invader from every spot 

on our soil, and teach him, if he hopes for conquest, how vain it 

is to seek it in a land of freedom. 

ANn&Ew Jackson. 

NO. XLII. 

Letter from general Keane to general Jackson* 

H, B. M, Mhifi Tonnant, off Mobile j Februaty Bthy 1815. 

Major-general Keane presents his best respects to gene- 
ral Jackson, and feels particularly thankful for the kindness he 
has experienced from him through the medium of colonel Li- 
vingston—He is still further obliged for general Jackson's kind 
wishes for his recovery. 

NO. XLIII. 
Letter from general Jackson to the secretary at war, 

Bead-Quartersy 7th Military District^ J^ew Orleans^ 
Sir, nth February j 1815. 

1 HAVE the honour to inclose you a copy of niajor Overton's 
report of the attack on fort St. Philip, and of the manner in whicb 
ijt was defended. 



%4n APPENDIX. 

The conduct of this officer, and of those who acted tindei- 
him, merits, I think, great praise. They nailed their own colours 
to the standard, and placed those of the enemy underneath them^ 
determined never to surrender the post. 

The flag-vessel which I sent to the enemy's fleet a fortnight" 
ago, for the purpose of ascertaining the causes that had prevented 
the delivery of a hundred of our seamen (Uiken on board the gun- 
boats) in violation of the articles entered into for the exchange of 
prisoners, has not yet returned, and I am apprehensive is detained 
by the enemy to prevent the discovery of some designs he may 
still hope to execute. Whatever their views may be, I am per- 
suaded they will be disappointed in them. 

A copy of the articles agreed upon for the exchange I here- 
with send you, and Lbeg leave to accompany it with the assurance 
*of my determination, to restore no more of tlie British prisoners 
until those articles are complied with by the British commanders. 

Major-general Keane, having lost his sword in the action of 
the 8th January, and having expressed a great desire to regain itf 
valuing it as the present of an esteemed friend, I thought prop^ to 
have it restored to him; thinking it more honourable to the Ame- 
rican character to return it, after the expres^on of those wishes, 
than to retain it as a trophy of victory. I believe, however, it is 
a singular instance of a British general soliciting the restoration 
of his swprd fairly lost in battle. 

Some entire Congreve-rockets have been found, and a rest 
from which they are fired, which it is my intention to forward to 
the seat of government whenever a proper opportunity shall offer, 
as also the instruments of the British band of music, and their 
quartersfiag. 

General Keane's trumpet, as well as that which was used on 

the right column of the enemyi -^erc taken in the action of the 8th 

January. Those instruments are in the possession of general 

Coffee's brigade, where I hope they will be permitted to remain. 

' I have the honour (o be, Sec. 

(Signed) Andrjsw Jaoksoj. 



APPENDIX. :x<«i 

NO. XLIV. 

Letter from general Lambert to general Jackson. 

Head'Quarteray lale Daufihine^ February i7thy 1815. 
Sib, 

I HAVB this moment received your letter, dated the 20th ins!. 
I have taken every step to bring the exchange to a speedy conclu* 
sion. 

On the subject of the concluding paragraph, I have only to 
remark, that honourable and feeling conduct which has character* 
ized every transaction in which I have had the honour to be con- 
cerned in with you. 

You may rely upon it, I shall take no retrospective view of 
the conduct of any of the men returned, and shall find reasons in 
discountenancing an inquiry, should it be brought before me, or 
come to my knowledge through any other channel. 

With regard to the negroes that have leflt their masters and 
are with this force, any proprietor or person deputed, that chooses 
to present himself to me will be received, and every facility af- 
forded him to communicate with those people; and I shall be very 
happy if they can be persuaded all to return, but to compel then^ 
is what I cannot do. 

With respect (which I inclose) to an address from majors 
general Viller6 to the commandant of this force, I am at a loss to 
understand the purport. The commissary-general's orders are 
to purchase cattle wherever he can meet with ihem. Amongst re- 
ceipts in that neighbourhood for beasts. procured, is that for those 
belonging to the major-general. I should have been glad to have 
k]K>wn the majorrgeneral's sentiments previous, as I certainly 
should not have troubled myself about his concerns, or endeavour* 
ed to render as little painful as I was able, not living in his house, 
the unavoidable circumstances attending the immediate theatre of 
war towards his son whom he had left unprotected. 
I have the honour to J)c, &c. 
(Signed) John L&mbkrt. 



xciv APPENDIX. 

Letter from general Jackeon to general Lambetrt, 

Head-Quarters^ 7th Military District^ Aew Orleans^ 
SiRj March Ath^ 1815. 

I AM gratified to find by the letter with which you have ho- 
noured me, that my confidence in your humanity and delicacy of 
conduct with respect to the prisoners was not misplaced. My re- 
quest was merely dictated by the plainest principles of jusdce. 
It is your ready, frank, and obliging compliance, that meritsN|(}e 
flattering epithet you have been pleased to bestow on my conduct. 

I am extremely sorry that the very high winds, which have 
prevailed ever since I sent for the British prisoners to Natchez^ 
have Jjrevented their arrival at this place. Vessels are ready to 
receive and carry them to the Balize the instant they shall arrive. 

Having been just informed that Mr. Shields, who command- 
ed ia lanch on Lake Borgne, has been made prisoner, I hope he 
may be. sent in on parole for exchange. 

The prisoners taken from your advanced post at Mobile 
Point are directed to be sent down to fort Bowyer, to be delivered 
'jo you, and included in the general exchange. 

1 am sorry that I cannot advise you, sir, of the ratification of 
the treaty signed at Ghent. At the date of my last advices it had 
pot arrived at the seat of government. 

I have the honour to be. Sec. 
(Signed) Amdrkw Jaoksok. 

Letter from general Jackson to general Lambert, 

Head'Quartersj 6th Marchy 1815. 

S^R, 

I HAVE just received intelligence from Washington which 
leaves little doubt in my mind that the treaty signed at Ghent be- 
tween the United States and Great Britain has been ratified by the 
president and senate of the United States, but by some unaccount- 
able accident a despatch on another subject has been substituted 
for the one intended to give me an ofiicial notice of this event. 
The one I have received however, is accompanied by an order 
from the postmaster- general directing his deputies to forward the 
express carrying intelligence of the recent peace. Of this order 
1 enclose a copy. And from other sources, to which I give credit* 



APPEITOIX. itcv 

I learn that the same express brought official ixytice of the treaty 
to the governor of Tennessee, I have deemed it a duty, without 
loss of time, to communicate the exact state of those circumstances,^ 
that you might determine whether they would not justify you in 
agreeing, by a cessation of all hostilities, to anticipate the happy 
return of peace between our two nations, which the first direct 
intelligence must bring to us in an official form. The prisoners 
from Natchez, after having been long detained by adverse winds, 
are now within a short distance of the city, and will certainly 
proceed to-morrow morning to the Balize, to be delivered to your 
officer according to my promise. 

I pray you, with the assurance of high respect, to receive that 
of the satisfaction 1 feel in reflecting that our correspondence, be- 
gun as commanders of hostile armies, should terminate as officers 
pf nations in amity. 

I have th^ honour to be, Sec. 
(Signed) Andrew Jackson^ 

Letter Jrom major Woodruff tQ admiral Cochrane. 

JDaufi/ime Island^ March \7thy 1845, 
Sir, 

I AM mstructed by his excellency major-general Andrew 
Jackson, commanding the United States 7th military district, to 
inform you of his having received notification of a treaty of peace 
between the United States of America and the government of 
Great Britain having been signed and exchanged at the city of 
Washington on the 17th February, 1815. By the first article oi 
that treaty, ^ all lerritorv, places and possessions whatsoevei^ 
taken by either party from the other during the war, or which 
may be taken after the signing of this treaty, excepting only the 
islands herein after mentioned shall be restored without delay, and 
without carrying any distinction, or carrying away any of the artil- 
lery, or other public property, originally captured in the said 
forts or places, and which shall remain therein upon the exchange 
•f the ratifications of this treaty, or any slaves or other private pro- 
perty." I am also commanded by his excellency, major-general 
Andrew Jackson, to receive such forts, garrisons, artillery, muni- 
tions of war, or other property, as may be embraced by said first 



wi AFPBNDIX. 

article. You will please therefore to make such arrangeltoenU as 
may be most convenient for carrying into effect the said first arti- 
cle of said, treaty. 

Such 9lavea as may be within your control) belonging to 
any inhabitant or citizen of the United States^ I am also instructed 
to receive, to the end that their owners may again obtain posses- 
sion of them. 

1 have the honour to b^, &c. » 



Letter from general Lambert to major Woodruff, 

Daufihine Uland^ March \7thi 1815. 
Sir, 

In answer to yours of this day's date, communicating to me 
that his excellency major-general Jackson had received notifica- 
tion of a treaty of peace between the United States of America and 
the government of Great Britain having been sigded and- exchan- 
ged at the city of Washington on the 1 7th February, 1815, add re* 
quiring you to carry into execution, on the part of the American 
government, the fulfilment of the first article of the treaty, I 
have to request that you will inform his excellency that immedi- 
ately I receive the same from the person charged by the British 
government to transmit it to all its naval and military command- 
ers serving in America, I shall give him immediate notice of it and 
be prepared to fulfil the treaty in every respect. 
I have the honour to be, Sec. 
(Signed) John Lambert. 

Letter from general Lambert to general Jackson. 

Isle DaufiMne^ March I9thy 1815. 

SfRy 

Since I had the pleasure of writing to you yesterday, I am 
ihformed that every thing will be einbarked (weather permitting) 
by the 25th. I have, in consequence, written to major-general 
Mcintosh, to inform him that the commandant of fort Bowyer 
has orders to deliver it up agreeable to the first artide of the 
treaty of peace on that day. 



APPENDIX. Kcvii 

The time of add preparations for a long voyage may detain 
the troops here- a few days longer, but no exertion will be wanting 
to embark the whole as soon as possible. 

As I may not have another opportunity of addressing you, 

permit me to avail myself of the present to wish you health and 

happiness, and to express my regret that circumstances will tiat 

allow me to assure you personally of the same. - 

I have the honour to be, 8cc. 
(Signed) John Lambert. 

J^etter from general Lambert to major Woodruff, 

lalc Daufihinej March 20thy 1815. 
Sib, 

I ANSWER to that part of your letter which touches upon the 

negroes who have come into the British force previous to the ra- 
tification of the peace, that is, on the 1 8th February last, I do not 
feel myself autlioiized to deliver them^up under the treaty, with^ 
out their consent. 

I have the honour to be, &c. 
(Signed) John Lambert. 

NO. XLV* 

Letter from general Jackson to James Monroe^ secretary pf v^a^r* 
Head'Quartersj 7th military district ^ 

JWw Orleans J 24th February, 1815. 
Sir, 

The flag-vessel which I sent to the enemy's fleet returned a 

few days ago, with assurances from admiral Cochrane, that the 
American prisoners taken in the gun*boata and sent to Jamai* 
ca, shall be retuiiied as soon as practicable. The Nymphe has 
been despatched for them. 

Through the same channel I received the sad intelligence of 
the surrender effort Bowyer: this. is an event which I little expect- 
ed to happen, but after the most gallant resistance; that it should 
have taken place, without even a Eve from the enemy *s batterie$ 
is as astonishing as it is mortifying. 

In coitsequence of this unfortunate affair, an addition of three 
hundred and sixty-six has been made to the list of American 
prisoners; to redeem these and the seamen, I have, in conformity 

n 



xcTiH APPENDIX. 

with propositions held out by admiral Cochrane, forwarded lb the 
mouth oi the Mississippi upwards of fear hundred British prison- 
eri>; others will be sent, to complete the exchange, as soon as th^y 
arriTC from Natchez, to which place I had found it expedient to 
order them. 

Major Blue, who had been ordered by general Winchester to 
the relief of fort Bowyer, succeeded in carrying one of the enemy's 
picquets, consisting of seventeen, but was too late 19^ effect the 
whole purpose for which he had been detached— the fort having 
capitulated twenty-four hours before his arrival. I learn from the 
bearer of my last despatches to the enemy's fleet, who was detam- 
ed during the operations against fort Bowyer^ that his loss on that 
occasion, by the fire from the garrison was between twenty and 
forty. 

I have the honour to be, hc2 

A. J. 



NO. XLVI. 

Letter from generalJackeon to major-general Lambert, 

Head'Quarters^ 7th military district y 

M'ev) Orleansy 26M February ^ 1815. 
Sib, 

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 
of the 19th iiist. 

In conformity with arrangements entered into with admiral 
Cochrane by my aid- de-camp, Mr. Livingston, I despatched from 
this place on the 32nd inst. four hundred British prisoners to be 
delivered at the mouth of tlie Mississippi, to the officer appointed 
on the part of his B. M. to receive them. Others will be sent to 
complete the exchange, as soon as they arrive from Natchez. 

It is expected that the American prisoners made at fort Bow- 
yer will be forwarded to the same point, as soon as practicable, and 
in time to return by the vessels that will convey the British prison- 
ers now on their way from Natchez. 

I take the liberty to enclose you copies of two letters, which 
I did myself the honour to address to admiral Cochrane on the 
20th and 2 1 st inst. in doing which you will perceive both my mo- 
tive and ray object- I have the honour to be, &c. 

A. J. 



APPENDIX. xcix 

NO. XLVIL 

Letter from general Jackson to major-general Lambert. 

Head-Quartersi 7th military district^ March 7th^ 1815. 
Sir, 

In consequence of the intimation contained in your formal 
letters, that every facility will be given to the proprietors of slaves 
now with your forces, to induce them to return, I have given per^- 
mission to M. M. Jumonville, Lanergue, Lacoste, Porstaii, Phi- 
lipan, Dclphin, Velez and Quarron to pass under a flag in the 
schooner Louisa, captain Pierre Etienne, to the fleet, for the pur- 
pose of seeing and reclaiming their slaves, to whom 1 pray that 
they (the slaves) may be delivered. ' 

I have the honour to be, 8cc. 

A. J, 

NO. XLVIII. 

GENERAL ORDERS. 

Head'Quartera^ 7th military district ^ adjutant^generaVa office^ 

JSTew Orleana^^th Marchy 1815. 

Althouom the commanding general has not received ofE- 
cial advice that the state of war has ceased by the ratification of 
the treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain, 
he has persuasive evidence of the fact, and credits it, at the rbk 
•f being misguided by his wishes. Under this impression, his 
first act is to release from actual service the body of the militia of 
this state, who have taken the field in obedience to the orders for 
a levy en masse. In discharging them from the noble duty which 
they were called to perform, the general does justice to the ala^p 
crity with which they have in general obeyed the call — to the en- 
thusiasm which animated them on the first invasion of the enemy, 
and the unanimity and patriotism which disappointed his insolent 
hopes. He thanks them, in the name of their common country, 
for the noble defence they have made, and he congratulates them 
in his own, on the consequences it has produced. Louisiana, 
though not called on for any exertion in assuming her independ- 
ence, has show^n, by h^r courage in its support, that she knows 
how to prize the inestimafade blessing; her sons have not only 



c APPENDfX. 

ensured safeljr, but have ac()uired eyen a greater good-^nodoftt 
reputation. Preserve this as the best reward of your exertions^ 
and hand it down untarnished^ together with your example, to 
your posterity. Let no designing men induce you to destroy itp 
by exciting jealousies of your best friends, or divisions among 
yourselves — by preaching party spirit in peace, insubordinatioa 
in war, injustice to your brave companions in arms, blindness to 
your own interests and to the true character of those enemies of 
your peace. Guard against these evils as you hope to enjoy the 
blessings you have so bravely won; and before you yield to such 
perfidious counsels, examine scrupulously whether those from 
whom they proceed, deserve your confidence, by any exertioa 
they have made in your defence. A zealous wish for the pros<- 
perity of the interesting country, in whose defence he has been^ 
by the blessing of heaven, instrumental, has induced the command- 
ing general to give this admonitory caution, which those who 
court popularity, tnay tell you is unnecessary. He, however, va- 
lues no popularity but that which arises from a faithful discharge 
of duty. In performing it, his object has been to secure your hap« 
piness; and he will always consider.it as one of the most fortunate 
incidents in his life, to have contributed, by his exertions, to the 
prosperity of your country. 

By command, Robkrt Butlek. 



NO. XLIX. 

Isetterfrom general Jackaon to general Lambert, 
Head'Quartersy 7th Military District^ 

J^ev) Orleans^ March 1 3/A, 1815. 
Sir, 

It is with great satisfaction that I inform you of my having 
received this day official advice of the ratification and interchange 
of the treaty of peace between the United States and Great firi- 
tab. 

A copy of the treaty and of the ratification will be presented 
to you by major Woodruff, of the 3d infantry, who will express 
you more fully than I can in the compass of a letter, those senti- 
ments which the new state of things between the two oatioss 
inspire. 



APPENDIX. ci 

I hare, by special ditection of the secretary of war, ordered 
an immediate cessation of hostilities, and by the like order make 
this communication to you. 

Mr. Livingston is empowered to make such arrangements 
fcr the restoration required by the first article of the treaty, and to 
receive all places, now in your possession, as well as the slaves 
mentioned in your former letters, and all x>ubUc property, confor*- 
mably to the provisions of the said treaty. 

Any facility or accommodation that may be required for your 
supplies, or the comfoits of your sick or wounded in my power, 
inrill be given with the greatest pleasure. 

I have the honour to be, &c. 

Andrew Jackson. 

Letter from general Jackson to major Woodruff. 

J^ew Orleans^ March 13rA, 1815. 

Major Woodruff will inform captain Newman at Petites Co- 
quilles of the restoration of peace, and direct him to permit the 
British flag, now waiting at that place, to come up to the city. He 
will also instruct captain Newman that all vessels are, in future, 
to be permitted to pass and repass freely. 

He will then proceed to the British fleet and deliver the des- 
patches with which he is charged to the commander-in-chief. 
He will receive the surrender of the posts and public property 
agreeable to the treaty, and require the delivery of slaves taken 
from hence. 

General Mcintosh will furnish the troops necessary for the 
occupation of the fort on his requisition. 

A. Jackson. 

NO. L. 

GENERAL ORDERS. 

ffead- Quart ersy 7th Military District j Adjutant-generals Office^ 

A>w Orleans, March 13, 1815. 
The commanding general, with the most lively emotions of 
joy, and of gratitude to Heaven, announces to the troops under his 
command, that a treaty of peace between the United States and 
Great Britain was ratified and exchanged at Washington, on the 
17t,h of February last. 



Gil appendix- 

Id coiuequeDce whereof^ he lotes«not in kifUot in revoking 
and annulimg the general ord^r iasued on the l$th day of Decem- 
bar last, proclaiming martial law, which is hereby revoked) an* 
nulled, and countermanded; and he orders all hostilities imme* 
d^ately to cease . against the troops and subjects of the united 
kiAgdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 

And in order ths^ the general* joy aUending this event maf 
extend to all manner of persona, the commanding general pro« 
elaims and orders a pardon tor all military offences heretofore 
ooranaitted in this district, and orders that all persona in confine- 
ment, under such charges, be immediately discharged 

By order, Uobsrt Butler, Adjutant-General. 

ffead'Quarterai 7th Military District ^ Adjutant-GeneraVa Office^ 

•Ww Orleans^ March 13, 1815. 

The commanding general communicates \%ith great satis- 
faction to the troops under his command, the following testimo- 
nial of the just sense which the president of the United States 
entertains of their patriotism,, valour, and good conduct. He 
congratulates them particularly on their being able to receive his 
applause with a consciousness of having deserved it; and takes a 
singular pleasure in conveying to the brave citizens of this state, 
who took up arms in its defence, the assurance that their exertions 
are appreciated as they deserve by the executive of the United 
States. 

" The president requests that you will express to the troops, 
who have acted under you, the very favourable sentiments which he 
entertains of their conduct. The alacrity with which they repair- 
ed to the standard of their country, exposed, in many instances, to 
distressing privations; the patience with which they have borne the 
fatigues of the campaign, and their bravery in action, have been 
seen by him with great satisfaction. To our newly adopted fel- 
low citizens of Louisiana, you will give assurance of his great 
sensibility to the decided and honourable proof which they have 
given of their attachment and devotion to the union, and of the 
manly support of the rights of their country. 

(Signed) « James Monroe, Secretary of State.*' 

By command, Robert Butler, Adj. Gen. 

\ 



APPENDIX. ^ 

NO. LI. . 

OEIISRAX ORDSRS. 

fftad'Quartertj 7th MUUary Diatrict^ Adjutant'^eneraVa Office, 

JStew OHeane, March 14/A, 1815. 
Th£ major-general is at length enabled to perform the pleas* 
ing task of restoring to Tennessee^ Kentucky, Louisiana and the 
territory of the Mississippi, the brave troops who have acted such 
a distinguished part in the war which ha^ just terminated. In re« 
storing these brave men to their homes, much exertion is expect- 
ed of, and great responsibility held on the commanding officers of 
the different corps. ' It is required of major-generals Carroll and 
Thomas, and brigadier-general Coffee, to march their commands 
without unnecessary delay to their respective states, and have 
them mustered for payment and discharged. The troops from the 
Mississippi territory and state of Louisiana, both militia and volun- 
teers, will be immediately mustered out of service by major Da* 
xisj assistant-inspector-general, paid and discharged. Every ar- 
rangement will be made through the department of war, to have 
the troops of Tennessee and Kentucky paid off the soonest possi- 
ble after their return. All public arms, accoutrements^ camp 
equipage, and military stores of every description, now in the 
possession of the different troops herein directed to be discharged, 
will be immediately deposited with the deputy-commissary of ord- 
nance and quarter-master-genera], except such camp equipage as 
is absolutely necessary for the troops on their return march, which 
must be delivered to some public agent on their dismissal. The 
quarter-master-general is hereby ordered to furnish transportation 
for all invalids belonging to the different corps. Those who can- 
not be moved without imminent danger of their lives, must be 
well accommodated, and supplied with hospital stores, and a suf- 
ficient number of surgec»s retained to attend them. The con- 
tractor will furnish provisions for the troops herein named, on their 
return march, on the requisition of the respective commanding 
officers; who, it is expected, will use every care and attention that 
no depredations are committed on private property; and are held 
personally responsible to remunerate, agi^eably to the regulations 
of the war department, all damages on property injured or destroy- 
ed by tlieir commands. 



giv APPENDIX. 

The major-g«neral has again the satisfaction of announcing 
the approbation of the president of the United States to the con- 
duct of the froops under his command^ expressed in flattering 
terms through the honourable the secretary at war. 

In parting with those brave men, whose destinies have been 
30 long united with his own, and in whose labours and glories it is 
his happiness and his boast to have participated, the commuiding 
general can neither suppress his feelings nor give utterance to 
them as he ought. In what terms can he bestow suitable praise 
on merit so extraordinary, so unparallelled! Let him in one burst 
of joy, gratitude and exultation exclaim — ^* these are the saviours 
of their country— these the patriot soldiers who triumphed over 
the invinciblea of Wellington, and conquered the conquerors of 
Euit)pe!" With what patience did you submit to privations— 
vith what fortitude did you endure fatigue — what valour did you 
display in the day of battle! You have secured to America a proud 
name among the nations of the earth — a glory which will never 
perish. 

Possessing those dispositions, which equally adorn the citizen 
and the soldier, the expectations of your country will be m^t in 
peace as her wishes have been gratified in war. Go then, my 
brave companions, to your homes; to those tender connexions and 
those blissful scenes which render life so dear-^full of honour, and 
crowned with laurels which will never fade. With what happi- 
ness will you not, when paiticipating in the bosoms of your families 
the enjoyment of peaceful life, look back to the toils you have 
borne-^to the dangers you have encountered? How will all your 
past exposures be converted into sources of inexpressible delight? 
Who, that never experienced your sufferings, will be able to ap- 
preciate your joys? The man who slumbered ingtpriously at 
home, during your painful, marches, your nights of watchfulness 
and your days of toil, will envy you the happiness which these re- 
collections will afford— still moi*e will he envy the gradtude of 
that country which you have so eminently contributed to save. 

Continue, fellow soldiers, on your passage to your several 
destinations, to preserve that subordmation, that dignified and 
manly deportment which have so ennobled your character. 



APPENDIX. w 

While the commanding-geDeral is thus giving indulgence to 
his feeling towards those brave companions who accompanied hint 
trough difficulties and danger> he cannot permit the. names of 
Bluuiit, and Shelby^ and Holmes, to pass unnoticed. With what 
a generous ardour of patriotism have these distinguished govern- 
ors contributed all their exertions to provide the means of victory! 
The memory of these exertions, and of the success with which 
they were attained, will be to them a reward more grateful than 
any which the pomp of title or the splendour of wealth can bestow. 

What a happiness it is to the commanding-general that, while 
danger was before us, he was, on no occasion, compelled to use, 
towards his companions in arms, either severity or rebuke. If, 
after the enemy had retired, improper pasbions b&gan to show 
their empire in a few unworthy bosoms, and rendered a resort to 
energetic measures necessary for their suppression, the com- 
manding-general has not confounded the innocent with the guilty, 
— the seduced with the seducers. Towards you, fellow-soldiers> 
the most cheering recollections exist, blended, alas! with regret, 
that disease and war should have ravished from us so many wor- 
thy cotnpanions. But the memory of the cauoe in wiiich they 
perished, and of the virtues which animated them while living, 
must occupy the place where sorrow would claim ^o dwell. 

Fai*ewell, fellow-soldiers. The expression of your general's 
thanks is feeble; but the gratitude of a country of freemen is 
yours— yours the applause of an admiring world. 

Andrew Jaoksont. 



NO. LIL 
TREATY OF PEACE. 

^AMES MADISON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 

To all and singular to whom these presenU shall comey greeting: . 

Whereas a treaty of peace and annty between the United 
States of America and his Britannic majesty was signed at Ghent, 
on the twenty-fourth day of Deceinl>er, one thousand eight hun- 
dred and fourteen, by plenipotentiaries respectively appointed for 
that purpose; and the said treaty having been, by and witli the ad- 
rice and consent of the senate of the United States, duly accepte^d, 

o 



cvi APPENDIX. 

Ratified and confirmed, on the seveateeiith day of Febroarf, one 
thousand eight hundred and fifteen; and ratified copiea thereof 
havmg been exchanged agreeably to the tenor of the said treaty^ 
which is in the words following, to wits 

TRBATT OP PBACE ANO AMITT BETWEEN HIS BRITANNIC MA- 
JESTT AND THB UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 

His Britannic majesty and the United States of America, de- 
sirous of terminating the war which has unhappily subsisted be- 
tween the two countries, and of restoring, upon principles of per- 
fect reciprocity, peace, friendship, and good understanding be- 
tween them, have, for that purpose, appointed their respective 
plenipotentiaries, that is to say: his Britannic majesty, on his part) 
has appointed the right honourable James lord Gambler, late ad- 
miral of the white, now admiral of the red squadron of his majes- 
ty's fleet, Henry Goulhoum, esq. member of the imperial parlia- 
ment, and under secretary of state, and William Adams, esq. doc- 
tor of civil laws: — and the president of the United States, by and 
. with the advice and consent of the senate thereof, has appointed 
John Quincy Adams, James A. Bayard, Henry Clay, Jonathan 
Russel, and Albert Gallatin, citizens of the United States, who, af- 
ter a reciprocal communication of their respective full powers 
have agreed upon the following articles: 

Art. L—nThere shall be a firm and universal peace between 
his Britannic majesty and the United States, and between their 
respective countries, territories, cities, towns and people, of every 
degree, without exception of places or persons. All hostilitiesi 
both by sea and land, shall cease as soon as this treaty has beea 
ratified by both parties, as hereinafter mentioned. All territories 
places, and possessiona whatsoever, taken from either party by the 
other, during the war, or which may be taken after the signing of 
this treaty, excepting only the islands hereinafter mentioned, shall 
be restored without delay, and without causing any destruction, or 
carrying away any of tjie artillery or other public property origi- 
nally captured in the said forts or places, and which shall remain 
therein, upon the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty, or any 
slaves or other private property, and all archives, records, deeds, 
and papers, either of a public nature, or belonging to private per- 
son, which, in the course of the war, may have fallen mto the 



APPENDIX. cW 

binds of the officers of either partf , shall be, as ftr as may be prac- 
ticable, forthwith restored and deliyered to the proper authoritiei 
and 'persons to whom they respectiyely belong. Such of the islands 
in the bay of Paasamaquoddy as are claimed by both parties, shall 
remain, in the possesion of the party in whose occupation they 
may be at the time of the exchange of the ratifications of this trea- 
ty, until the decision respecting the title to the said islands shall 
have been made, in conformity with the fourth article of this 
treaty. No dispoution made by this treaty, as to such possession 
of the islands and territories claimed by both parties, shall, in any 
manner whatever, be construed to affect the right of either. 

Art. II.— Immediately after the ratification of this treaty by 
both parties, as hereinafter mentimied, orders shall be sent to the 
armies, squadrons, officers, subjects and citizens of the two pow* 
ers to cease from all hostilities: and to prevent aU causes of com- 
plaint which might arise on account of the prizes which may be 
taken at sea after the ratifications of this treaty, it is reciprocally 
agreed, that all vessels and effects which may be taken after the 
space of twelve days from the said ratifications, upon all parts of 
the coast of North America, from the latitude of twenty-three de* 
grees north, to the latitude of fifty degrees iiorth, as br eastward 
in the Atlantic ocean, as the thirty-sixth degree of west longitude 
from the meridian of Greenwich, shall be restored on each ude: 
That the time shall be thirty days in all other parts of the Atlan- 
tic ocean, north of the equinoxial line or equator, and the same 
time for the British and Irish channels, for the gulf of Mexico, and 
all parti of the West Indies:,forty days for the North Seas, for the 
Baltic,^ and for all parts of the Mediterrinean. Sixty days for the 
Atlantic ocean south of the equator as far as the latitude of the 
Cape of Good Hope: ninety days for every part of the world south 
of the equator: and one hundred and twenty days for all other parts 
of the world, without exception. 

Art. III.'— All prisoners of war taken on either side, as well 
by land as by sea, shall be restored as soon as practicable after th^ 
ratificati<m of this treaty, as hereinafter mentioned, on their paying 
the debts which they may have contracted during their captivity. ' 
The two contracting parties respectively engage to discharge, in 
specie, the advances which may have been made by the other, for 
the sustenance and maintenance of such prisoners. 



cvUi APPENDIX. 

Ab»t, it.— Whereas it was stipulated by the sectMid aiticle in 
the treaty of peace of one thousand seven hundred and eighty* 
three, between his Britannic majesty and the United States of 
America, that the boundary of the United States shouid compre- 
hend ,all islands within twenty leagues of any part of the shores of 
the United States, and lying between lines to be drawn due east 
from the points where the aforesaid boundaries between Nova- 
Scotia, on the one part, and East Florida on the other, shall re- 
spectively touch the Bay of Fundy, arid the Atlantic ocean, ex- 
cepting such islands as now are, or heretofore have been withiD 
the limits of Nova-Scotia: and whereas the scvei'al islands in the 
Bay of Passamaquoddy, which is part of the Bay of Fundy, and the 
islaiK) of Grand Menan, in the said Bay of Fundy, are claimed by 
the United States as being comprehended within their aforesaid 
boundaries, which said islands are claimed as belonging to his 
Britannic majesty, as having been at the time of, and previous to, 
the aforesaid treaty of one thousand seven hundred and eighty- 
three, within the limits of the province of Nova Scotia: in order, 
therefore, finally to decide upon these claims, it is agreed that they 
shall be referred to two commissioners, to be appointed in the fol- 
lowing manner, viz. One commissioner shall be appointed by his 
Britannic majesty, and one by the president of the United States^ 
by and with the advice and consent of the senate thereof, and the 
said two commissioners so appointed shall be sworn impaftlaily to 
examine and decide upon the said cl^ms according to such evi- 
dence as shall be laid before them on the part of his Britannic ma- 
jesty and of the United States respectively. The said conunis- 
sioners shall meet at St. Andrews, in the province of New Bruns- 
wick, and shall have power to adjourn to such other place or pla- 
ces as they shall think fit. The said commissioners shall, by a de- 
claration or report under their hands and seals, decide to which 
of the two contracting parties the several islands aforesaid do re- 
spectively belong, in conformity with the true intent of the said 
treaty of peace of one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three. 
And if the said commissioners shall agree in their decision, both 
parties shall consider such decision as final and conclusive. It is 
further agreed, that in the event of the two commissioners differ- 
ing upon all or any of the matters so referred to them, or in Uic 
event of both or either of the said commissioners refusing or de*. 



APPENDIX. cix 

elhuDg, or wilfully omitting, to act as such, they shall make jointly 
or separately, a report or reports, as well to the government of 
his Britannic majesty, as to that of the United States, stating in 
detail the points on which they differ, and the grounds upon which 
their respective opinions have been formed, or the grounds upon 
which they, or either of them, have so refused, declined, or omit- 
ted to act And his Britannic majesty, and the government of the 
United States, hereby agree to refer the report or reports of the 
said commissioners, to some friendly sovereign or state, to be then 
named for that purpose, and who shall be request^ to decide on 
the differences which may be stated in the said report or reports, 
or upon the report of one commissioner, together with the grounds 
upon which the other commissioner shall have refused, declined, 
or omitted to act, as the case may be. And if the commissioner 
so refusing, declining, . or omitting to act, shall also wUfuliy omit 
to state the grounds upon vnhich he has so done, in such manner 
that the said statement may be referred to such friendly sovereign 
or state, together with the report of such other commissioner, then 
such sovereign or state, shall decide ex parte upon the said report 
alone. And his Britannic majesty and the government of the Uni- 
ted States engage to consider the decision of some friendly sove*- 
reign or state to be final and conclusivci on all the matters so re- 
ferred. 

Art. v. — Whereas neither that point of the high lands lying 
due north from the soui*ce of the river St. Croix, and designated 
in the former ti'caty of peace between the two powers as the north- 
west angle of Nova Scotia, now the north westernmost head of 
Connecticut river, has yet been ascertained; and whereas that pan 
of the boimdary line between the dominion of the two powers 
which extends from the source of the river St. Croix directly 
north to the above mentioned northwest angle of Nova Scotia^ 
thence along the said high lands which divide those rivers that 
empty themselves into the river St. Lawrence from those which 
faU into the Atlantic ocean, to the northwestemmost head of Con- 
necticut river, thenc^i down along the middle of that river to the 
forty-fifth degree of north latitude: thence by a line due west on 
said latitudes until it strikes the river Iroquois or Cataraguy, has 
not yet been surveyed: it is agreed, that for these several purpo- 



Qx APPENDIX- 

seS) two oommis»onen shall be appoiotedy sworn, and ttathorize^ 
to act exactly in the manner directed with respect to those men* 
tioned in the next preceding article, rniless otherwise specified in 
the present article. The said commissioners shall meet at St 
Andrews, in the province of New Brunswick, and shall hare pow* 
er to adjourn to such other place or places as they shall think fit 
The said commissioners shall have power to ascertain and deter- 
mine the points above mentioned, in conformity with the provi- 
sions of the said treaty of peace of one thousand seven hundred 
and eighty-three, and shall cause the boundary aforesaid, from the 
source of the river St Croix, to the river Iroqikis or Cataraguy, 
to be surveyed and marked according to the said provisions. The 
said commissioners shall make a map of die said boundary, and 
annex it to a declaration under their hands and seids, certifying it 
to be the true map of the said boundary, and particularizing the 
latitude and longitude of the northwest angle of Nova Scota, of 
the northwestemraost head of Connecticut river, and of such other 
points of the said boundary as they may deem proper. And both 
parties agree to consider such map and declaration as finally and 
conclusively fixing the said boundary. And in the event of the 
said two commissioners differing, or both, or either of them, re- 
fusing or declining, or wilfully omitting to act, such reports, de- 
clarations, or statements, shall be made by them, or either of them, 
and such reference to a friendly sovereign or staite, shall bemade» 
in all respects as in the latter part of the fourth article is contained, 
and in as full a manner as if the same was herein repeated. 

Art- VI.— Whereas by (he former treaty of peace, that por- 
tion of the boundary of the United States'from the point where 
the forty-fifth degree of north latitude strikes the river Iroquois or 
Cataraguy to the lake Superior, was declared to be ^ along the 
middle of said river into lake Ontario, through the middle of said 
lake until it strikes the communication by water between that lake 
and lake Eriej thence along the middle of said eommunicatioo in- 
to lake Erie, through the middle of said lake until it arrives at^fae 
water communication into the lake Huron, thence through the 
middle of said lake to the water communication between that lake 
and lake Superior/' And whereas doubts have arisen what was 
the middle of said river, lakes, and water cDrnmumcatioDS) awl 



• APPENDIX. cxi 

whether certaiD ialnBds lying hi the same were withm the domi- 
moBS of his Britannic majesty or of the United States: in orderi 
therefore, finally to decide these doubts, they shall be referred to two 
commissioDersy to be appointed, sworn, and authorized to act ex- 
actly in the numner directed with respect to those mentioned in 
the next preceding article^ unless otherwise specified in this pre* 
sent article. The said commissicners shall meet, in the first ia- 
stance at Albany, in the state 6f New York, and shall have power 
to adjourn to such other place or places as they shall think fit. 
The said commissioners sball^ by a report or declaration, under 
their hands and seals, designate the boundary through the said 
river, lakes, or water communications, and decide to which of the 
two contracting parties the Several islands lying within the said 
river, lakes, and water communications, do respectively belongs 
in conformity with the true intent of the said treaty of one thou- 
sand seven bundre4 and eighty-three. And both pai*des agree to 
consider auch designation and decision as final and conclusive. 
And in the event of the said two commissioners differing, or both, 
9r either of them, refusing, declining, or wilfully omitting to act« 
auch reports, declarations, or statements, shall be made by them, 
or either of them; and such reference to a friendly sovereign or 
state shall be made in all respects as in the latter part of the fourth 
article is contained^ and in as full a manner as if the same was 
herein repeated* 

Art. VII.— It is further agveed that the said two last men* 
tioned commissioners, after they shall have executed the duties 
assigned to them in the preceding article, shall be, and they are 
hereby authorized, upon their oaths, impartially to fix and de- 
termine, according to the true intent of the said treaty of peace of 
one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, that part of the 
boundary between the dominions of the two powers, which ex* 
tends from the water coummunication between l|ke Huron and 
lake Superior j to the ihost northwestern point of the lake of the 
Woods, to decide to which of the two parties the several islands 
lying in the lakes, water communications and rivers, forming the 
said boundary, do respectively belong, in conformity with the true 
intent oS the said treaty of peace of one thousand seven hundred 
and eighty •threes and to cause such puts of the said boundary, aa 



cxii APPENDIX. 

require it, to be surveyed and marked. The said commissioiiercr 
shall, by a report or declaration under their hands and seals, de« 
signate the boundary line aforesaid, state their decisions on the 
points thus referred to them, and particularize the latitude and 
longitude of the most northwestern point of the lake of the Woods^ 
and of such oth^r parts of the said boundary, as they may deem 
proper. And both parties agree to consider such designation and 
decision as final and conclusive. And in the event of the said two 
commissioners differing, or both, or either of them, refusing, de- 
clinuig, or wilfully omitting to act, such reports, declarations, or 
statements, shall be made by them, or either of them, and such 
reference to a friendly sovereign or state, shall be made in all re- 
spects, as in the latter part of the fourth article is contained, and 
in as full a manner as if the same was herein repeated. 

Art. viii.^-The several t>oard8 of two commissioners men- 
tioned in the four preceding articles, shall respectively have powr 
er to appoint a secretary, and to employ such surveyors or other 
persons as they shall judge necessary. Duplicates of all their re- 
spective reports, declarations, statements, and decisions, and of 
their accounts and of the journal of their proceedings, shall be de- 
livered by them to the agents of his Britannic majesty, and to the 
agents of the United States, who may be respectively appointed 
and authorized to manage the business on behalf of their respec- 
five governments. The said commissioners shall* be resi^ectively 
paid in such manner as shall be agreed between the two con- 
tracting parties, such agreement being to be settled at the time of 
the exchange of the ratifications cyf this treaty; and ail other ex- 
penses attending ^aid commissioners shall be defrayed equally by 
the two parties. And in case of death, sickness, resignation, or 
necessary absence, the place of every such commissioner respec- 
tively shall be supplied in the same manner as such commissioner 
was first appointed, and the new commissioner shall take the same 
oath or affirmation, and do the same duties. It is further agreed 
between the two contracting parties, that in case any of the islands 
mentioned in any of the preceding articles, which were in tlie pos- 
session of one of the parties prior to the commencement of the 
present war between the countries, should, by the decision of any 
of the boards of commissioners aforesaid, or of the sovereign or 



APPENDIX. cxitt 

s^te so referred to^ as in the four next preceding articles con- 
tainedy fall within the dominions of the other party, ail grants of 
land made previoos to the commencement of the war, by the party 
having had such possession, shall be as valid as if such island qv 
islands, had by such decisiicm or deci^ons, been adjudged to be 
within the dominions of the party having such possession. 

Art. ix.*«The United States of America engage to put an 
end, immediately aftsr the ratification of the present treaty, to hos- 
tilities yrifth all the tribes or nations of Indians, with whom they 
tn&y be at war at the time, of such ratification; and forthwith to 
restore to such tribes or nations, respectively, all the possessions, 
rights, and privileges, which they may have enjoyed or been entitled 
to in one thousand eight hundred and eleven, previous to such 
hostilities: Provided alwaysy that such tribes or nations shall agree 
to desist from all hostilities against the United States of America^ 
their citixens and subjects, upon the ratification of the present 
treaty being notified to such tribes or nations, and shall so desist 
accordingly. And his Britannic majesty engages, on his part, to 
put an end immecfiately after the ratification of the present treaty, 
to hostiUties with all the tribes or nations of Indians with whom 
he may be at war at the time of such ratification, and forthwith to 
restore to such tribes or nations respectively, all the possessions, 
fights, and privileges, which they may have enjoyed, or been en- 
dtlsd to in c»e thousand eight hundred and eleven, previous to 
ansh hostilities: Frtndded alwa^B, thai such tribes or nations shall 
agree to desist from all hostiikies agidnst his Britannic majesty, 
»d his subjects) upon the ratifi'cstien of the present treaty being 
notified to such tribes or nations, atid shtf so desist accordingly. 

Abt. X.-- Whereas the traffic in slaves is irreconcilable with 
the principles of humanity and justice, and whereas both his Bri- 
tannic majesty and the United States are desirous of continuing 
€ieir efforts to promote its entire abolition, it is hereby agreed that 
both the contracting parties shall use their best endeavours to ac- 
complish so desirable an d>j^ct. 

Art. XI.— -This treaty, when the same shall have been rati- 
fied on both sides, without alteration by either of the contracting 
parties and the ratifications mutually exchanged, shall be binding 
i>n both parties, and the ratifications shajl be exchanged at Wai?h- 

P 



cxrv APPENDli. 

ingtoD, in the space of four months from this day, or sooner if 
practicable. 

In faith whereof, we the respective plenipotentiaries, have sign- 
ed this treaty, and have thereunto affixed our seals. 

Done, in triplicate, at Ghent, the twenty-fourth day of Deccm- 
lier) one thousand eight hundred and fourteen. 



(L. 8.) 


Gambieh, 


(L. 8.) 


Hknrt Goulbouru, 


(I.. 8.) 


WihLtAU Adams, 


(L.8.) 


John Quimcy Adams, 


(L. 8.) 


J. A. Batard, 


(I.. 8.) 


H. Clat, 


(t. 8.) 


Jonathan Rcssell, 


(t.».) 


Albert Galjlatik. 



Now, there^e, to the end that the said treaty of peace and 
amity may be observed with good &ith, on the part of the Unitec! 
States, I, James Madison, president as aforesaid, have caused the 
premises to be made public: and I do hereby enjoin all persona 
bearing office, civil or military, within the United States, and all 
others, citizens or inhabitants thereof, or being within the same, 
faithfully to observe and fulfil the said treaty and every ckuse and 
article thereof. 

In testimony whereof I have caused the seal of the United States 

to be affixed to these presents, and signed the same with my hand. 

Done at the city of Washington, this eighteenth day of Februa- 

ry, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight huBdred and 

fifteen, and of the sovereignty and independetice of the 

United States the thirty-Sunth. 

James Madison. 
-Oy the President^ James Monroe. 

NO. LIII. 

address 

Prom the city battalion of unfform comfianiet to major»general 
Jackson, 

General, JVew-Orleanay 1 6th March^ 1815. 

We have delayed until this moment the expression of our 

feelings towards you, lest the honest emotions of our hearts should 

be ascribed to a desire of propitiating the favour of our command- 



APPENBIX. CKv 

CT, At this momeiit, when neither hope nor fear can be supposed 
to have influenced us, we pray you to receive the sincere tribute 
of our thanks — as soldiers, for the confidence you have reposed in 
us; for the paternal care with which you have watched over our 
comforts, and above all, for that justice you have done to our zeal 
in assigning us on every occasion a post of danger and of honour-^ 
as citizens, for the wisdom of the measures you devised to protect 
our country; for the skill and bravery with which they were exe- 
cuted; and for that indispensable energy to which we owe our 
safety. Leaving to others the task of declaiming about ftrivileges 
and constitutional rights, we are content with having fought in 
support of them — we have understanding enough to know when 
they are wantonly violated: and no Bdse reasoning shall make us 
ungrateful to the man whose wisdom and valour have secured 
them to us and to our posterityl We do not deal in professions; 
we pray you, general, to be assured, that in the officers and men of 
this battalion you have soldiers who have been and are always 
ready to affront every danger under your commvind-^/ello^'cUi- 
zensy grateful for your services— ^Vnrf«, persdnally attached to 
your fortunes, and ready to promote your happiness at the risk of 
their own. You have allowed us the endearing title of your 
brothers in arm«-— it was given to us on this field, strewed then 
with the bodies of our enemies; and we feel a noble' pride in the 
consciousness that allows us to accept it. That fraternity, cemented 
in hostile blood, shall be the pride of our lives; and in aftertimes 
will secure to our children the respect of posterity. General, 
common phrases cannot express the emotions which agitate us at 
the moment of our separation— but we pray heaven to watch over 
your safety; and we trust to a grateful country for the honours 
and advancement which your services have merited, 

J. B. Plauohb, wMyor. N. Thompson, lieutenant. 

Ste. Gem&, captain. C. Fremont, lieutenant. 

M. White, cafitain, DuHULquoh, lieutenant^ 

A. GuiBEET, cafifain. L. Pii«ie, lieutenant, 

HuDRT, cafitain. B^NETAun^ 

P. RooHB, cafitain. Bertbl, lieutenant. 

JoHK St. Jean, lieutenant, Huet, lieutenant, 
CoEUR nE Roy. Le Mounirr, serjeanf^ma/or 

Ds St. RomeS) lieutenant. 



(sxyi. APPENDIX, 

GENERAL^S ANSWEIl. 

Fellow-SolpierS) 

Although born and bred in a land of freedom, popular &- 
vour has always been with me a secondary object. My first wishj 
In political life, has been to be useful to my country. Yet, I am 
not insensible to the good opinion of my fellow-citizens; I would 
do much to obtain it; but I cannot, for this purpose, sacrifice my 
own conscience or what I conceive to be the mterests of my 
coimtry. 

These 'principles Imvc prepared me to receive, with just sa- 
tisfaction, the address you have presented. The first wish of my 
heart, the safety of your country, has been accomplished; and it 
affords me the greatest happiness to know that the means taken 
to secure this object have met the ^approbation of those who have 
had the best opportunities of judging of their propriety, and who, 
from their various relations, might be supposed the most ready to 
censure any which had been improperly resorted to. The dis- 
tinction you draw, gentlemen, between those who only declaim 
about civil rights and those who fight to maintain them, shows 
how just and practical a knowledge you have of the true princi* 
pies of liberty— without such knowledge all theory is useless or 
mbchievous. 

Whenever the invaluable rights which we enjoy under our 
happy constitution are threatened by invasion, privileges the most 
dear, and which, in ordinary times« ought to be regarded as the most 
sacred, .may be required to be infringed for their security. At 
such a crisis, we have only to determine whether we will suspend, 
for a time, the exercise of the latter, that we may secure the per- 
manent enjoyment of the former. Is it wise, in such a moment, 
to sacrifice the spirit of the laws to the letter, and by adhering too 
strictly to tlie letter, lose the substance fo.rever, in order that we 
may, for an instant, preserve the 9hadono? It is not to be imagined 
that the express provisions of any written law can fully embrace 
emergencies which suppose and occasion the suspension of all 
law, but the highest and the last, that of self-preservation. No 
right is more precious to a freeman than that of sufirage; but had 
your election taken place on the 8th of January, would your de- 
claimers have advised you to abandon the defence of your country 



APPENDIX. cxwi 

ki order to exercise tMs mesdmable privilipge at the polls? Is it 
to be stippoted thst your general, if he regarded tfa/c important 
trtrst committed to his charge, ifould have permitted you to pre« 
serve the constitution by a|i act which would have iavoived con* 
stituticn, country and honour in one undistinguished ruin? 

What is more justly important than persomal liberty; yet how 
can the civil enjoyment of this privilege be made to consist with 
the order, subordination and discipline of a camp? Let the senti- 
nel be removed by sudfioena from his post, let writs of Aakeat 
C9rftus carry away the officers from the fines, and the enemy m«y 
conquer your country by otily employing lawyers to defend your 
constitution. 

Private property is held sacred in all good goyemments, and 
particularly in our own, yet, shall the fear of invading it prevent a 
general from marching his army over a corn-field, or burning a 
house which protects the enemy? 

These and a thousand other instances might ))e cited to show 
that laws must sometimes be silent when necessity speaks. The 
only question with the friend of his country will be, have these 
Jaws been made to be silent wantonly and unnecesaarily? If neces- 
sity dictated the measure, if a resort to it was important for the 
preservation of those rights which we esteem so dear, and in de- 
fence <^ which we had so willingly taken up arms, surely it would 
not have been becoming in the comtnander-in-chief to have shrunk 
from the re^nsibility which it involved. He did not shrink from 
it. In declaring martial law, his object, and his only object, was 
to embody the whole resources of the country, for its defence. 
That law, while it existed, necessarily suspended all rights and 
privileges inconsistent with its provisions. It is matter of sur- 
prise that they who bofist themselves the champions of those 
rights and privileges should not, when they were fii*st put in dan- 
ger by the proclamation of martial law, have manifested that lively 
sensibility of which they have since made so ostentatious a dis- 
play. So far, however, was this from being the case, that this 
measure not only met, then, the open support of those who when 
their country was invaded thought resistance a vlKue, and the si- 
lent approbation of all; but even received the particular recom- 
mendation and encouragement of many who now inveigh the most 
bitterly against it. It was not until a victory, Secured by that very 



cxviii APPENDIX. 

measure, had lessened the danger which occasioned a resort to it) 
that the present /«rr/in^ guardiaru of our righta discovered that the 
commanding-general ought to have suffered his posts to be aban- 
doned through the interference of a foreign agent— his ranks to be 
thinned by desertion^ and his whole army to be broken to pieces 
by mutiny; while yet a powerful force of the enemy remained on 
your coast, and within a few hours sail of your city. 

I thought and acted differently. It was not until I discovered 
that the civil power stood no longer in need of the military for its 
support, that I restored to it its usual functions; and the restora* 
tion was not delayed a moment after that period had arrived. 

Under these circumstances, fellow-soldiers, your resolution 
to let Bthera deciaim about firtuileges and constitutional rightej will 
never draw upon you the charge of being indifferent to those in- 
estimable blessings; your attachment to them has been proved by 
a stronger title— that of having nobly fought to preserve them.— 
You who have thus supported them against the open pretensions 
of a powerful enemy, will never, I trust, surrender them to the un- 
derhand machinations of men who stand aloof in the hour of peril, 
and who, when the danger is gone, claim to be the ^ defenders <if 
your constitution.** 

An honourable peace has dissolved our military connexion; 
and, in a few dayb, I shall quit a country endeared to me by the 
most pleasing recollections. Among the most prominent of these, 
gentlemen, are those I shall ever entertain of the distinguished 
bravery, the exact discipline, the ardent zeal, and the important 
services of your corps. The offered friendship of each individual 
composing it, I receive with pleasure, and with sincerity recipro* 
cate. I shall always pride myself on a fraternity with auch men» 
created in such a cause. 

Andrisw Jackson. 



NO. LIV. 

Inciter from general Jackson to the secretary ff war, 
Head-quartersy 7th military district^ 

JSTevf Orleans^ March 16, 1815. 
^»* — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your 
letter of the 16th ult. advising me of the ratification of the treaty 
of peace between Great Britain and the United States, 



At^PENMX. cxik 

Ia cotiformitf with jFOur directions^ I have forwarded to the 
officer commanding his Britannic majesty's forces, in this quarter^ 
information of that event. 

The Tennessee and Kentucky militia will be immediately 
marched to their respective states, and discharged without receiv*; 
ing any pay beforehand. The I^tiisiana and Mississippi militia 
will be discharged and paid here; It is hoped that fonda will be 
provided for the payment of the former in suitable time. 

DijQculties are experienced from the want of means to pro- 
cure forage, and transportation on the rfitum march, colonel 
Knight having not yet arrived. On this acamnt I have offered 
my bills on the governor of Tennessee, payable in treasury notes^ 
at Nashville. 

I have received no intelligence of colonel Knight, eitcept hf 
your letter of the rth ult. 

The greater portion of the regulars in this quarter having eti* 
listed to serve during the war, expect to be immediately dis^^ 
charged. As you have not mendoned them in your inatructions, 
I shall.be glad to hear from you on the subject as soon as possible.* 

It is my intention, so soon as 1 get the troops mustered out of 
^service here, to remove my head-quarters to Nashville, where I 
shall expect to receive the orders of the government. 

Major-general Gaines is placed in the immediate command 
of this secdon of the district, and I am happy to commit it ta One 
in whom the government has such high and deserved confidence. 

I have the honour to be, &c 

A. Jaokson. 

NO. LV. 

Letttrfrom major Woodruff to general Jackson* 

J^ew Orleans^ March 33c?, 1815. 

Sir— In compliance with your orders of the 14th inst. I left 

the bayou St. Johns at twelve o'clock of the same day, and arrived 

at Dauphine island on the night of the 16th, the head^quarters of 

the British army.* 

I immediately informed major^^general Lambert of your ha- 
ving received official notice of a treaty of peace having been sign- 
ed ind exchanged at the city of Washington, on the 1 7th of Fe»- 



SUE APPENDllX. 

bniarf, hilSf iMitween the United Stfil«» «f Americfi sad ^ go- 
vemnent of Great Britain; (a oopyQi-wHoh I banded Um)—fHid 
that I was ordered by you to receive all fofUiy plaees, tttiUery, mu- 
nitiona of war, er other public t>fpriTate property captured during 
the war, embmcffll by the fint arttcie of aaid treUy; aod that I 
iras.particulariy instrueted to receiTO all ^lavta^ belong^g to any 
iohaihitaiit or citiseu of the UnitedvStatea» captured or protected 
by the BritiMi army* 

Geaerai laxdbert sofomaied me. that he couid not give' up 
fort Bowyer until he- received oficial information, from an au- 
thomed agent of hb government) that the treaty had heen con- 
ftcmed by nunp^ihaSi then he woiild he prepared to. executCy on 
the part of his government, every article of said treatfy . except 
that part rehUmg^o fAcvra, as it :Waa totally incompatihk.witJi the 
spirit and constitution of his government. t^ recognise tUtotry Bi 
all«^that he would use his infiu^iee, in .persuading^ them to letum 
to their masters, by every argumeotin hit power;; but that he would 
not use' finxe in compelfing tbcir obedience, or permit it to be 
used within the British lines. That I might stand acquitted of 
having disehari^ my duty, i addressed a nott to the British com- 
mander on the Uth instant, jnarked No. I. His<notein eeftunii 
No. 2, you will perc^ve is evasive, and by no meana aaoitis&ctoi^ 
answer to mine. I.again requested a categorical, ansirer, particu- 
larly to that piart of my note lelatiagto. slaves. His toiawer you 
will find marked No. 3. 

I filatter myself^ sir, I have done all in my power to effect 
your wishes, and regret my exertions were not attended with more 
success. 

I have the honour to be, &c. 

J. WoonauFF. 



NO. LVL 

Letter ftom general JLambert to general Jackson. 

Head'Quartersy Isle Daufihine^ March 18, 1815. 

Si«r-*I received with gre^t pjleasure, by tl^ hands of major 

Waadxuff, on. the evening of the 16th, about nine o'clock, yours 

of the 1 :}^h inaunu I commi^ikated the contents immediately t« 



APPENDIX. .cxti 

near admiral Malcohn, and orders were issued for the cessation of 
hostilities, and to all detached posts and ships to be withdrawn in 
our respective commands. I daily expect an official communi- 
cation (similar to what you have received) from Mr. Baker. In 
the meantime every preparation is making for the embarkation 
of this force, and shifts are now sent away, when we are able to 
put sufficient provisions on board to take them to Bermuda. 
Victuallers from Jamaica must be here in a very fejv days, when 
every thing will be put on board as quickly as |k)ssible; and 
should I by that time not have received any intelligence, the ad* 
miral and myself will have no hesitation in putting to sea directly^. 
I have requested major Woodruff, who went up to Mobile yes- 
terday, to acquaint the commanding officer that I would let him 
know the moment we were prepared to give up the fort, which 
. would be when the transports could get out of the bay. . The fort 
would be restored in every respect as when it fell into our pos- 
session, with the exception only of a brass mortar, cast in George 
the Second's reign, which had been sent 4way the day after. 

In the fulfilling the first article of the treaty, I cannot consi- 
der the meaning of ^sWt causing any destruction, or carrying away 
any artillery, or oth^r public property, originally captured in th^ 
.said forts or places, and which shall remain iherrin upon the exl 
.change of the ratification of this treaty, or any slave, or other pro- 
perty,*' having reference to any antecedent period to the 1 8tlx of 
February, the day of the exchange of ratifications; because it i^ 
only from that time that the article C9uld be fulfilled in a long 
war. If those negroes (the matter now in question) belonged 
.to the territory or city we were actually in occupation of, I 
should conceive we had no right to take them away; but bv 
their coming away, they are virtually the same as deserters 
or propeily taken away at any time of the war. I am obliged to 
say so much in justification of the right; but I have from the first 
done all I could to prevent, and subsequently, together with ad- 
miral Malcolm, have given every facility, and used every persua- 
sion that they should return to their masterS) and many have done 
so; but I could liot reconcile it to myself to abandon any, who, from 
false reasoning perhaps, joined us during the period of hostilities, 

q 



cxxii APPE^MX. 

apd ha^e thus acted in viQl^ti(m.of ^l^e laws of tbcir country and 
\xesif)es bcQpmc pbpoxipus to their masters. 

Had it been an object to take the negroes awajr, they cpuld 
have been embarked in the first i^stapce; but the^ have been per- 
.xnitted to reipain in the hopes that they might, return. 

I am niucli obliged tp you for your offer of suppUeS) and com- 
forts for the sick and wouiided/ I send a compii^sary, to make ^ 
fe^ .purchases, and have directed him to call ofi Mr. LivingstoD 
f^ith this letter. 

I have the l^onour to be, k,c. 

John Lambert, MaJ, Gen, Com*g. 

NO. LVH. 

CONGRESS OF TH£ UNITED STATES. 

Thb following resolutions, expressive of the high sense en- 
tertained by congress of the patriotism and good conduct of the 
people of Louisiana and of New Orleans^ were unanimously 
adopt d: 

Resolved^ by the 9enate and house of re/iresentaHves of the 
United States of America in congress assembled^ That congress 
entertain a high sense of the patriotism, fidelity, zeal and courage 
with which the people of the state of Louisiana promptly and una* 
nimously stepped forth, under drcumstances of imminent danger 
from a powerful invading army, in defence of all the individual, 
social, and political rights held dear by man. Congress declare 
aiid proclaim, that the brave Louisianians deserve well of the 
whole people of the United States. 

Resolved^ That congress entertain a high sense of the gene- 
rosity, benevolence, and humanity, displayed by the people of NeV 
Orleans, in voluntarily offering the. best accommodations in their 
power, and giving the kindest attention to the wounded) not only 
of our own army, but also to the wounded prisoners of a vaO'^ 
qui shed foe. 

Resolved^ Tjiat the president of the United States be re- 
quested to cause the foregoing resolutions to be communis 
cated to his excellency the governor of Louisiana, accompanied 
with a request that he cause the greatest possible publicity to be 
given to them, for the information of the whole people of Looisi* 



APPENDIX. cxxly: 

Resolutions expi-essive of (the thanks of congress to major- 
general JacksOn, and the troops under his command, Ibr xhtlt' 
gallantry and good conduct in the defence of New Orleans: 

Resolved^ by the senate and house of refiresentatrvea of the 
United States of America in congress^assembledj That the thanks 
of congress be, and they are hereby given to major-general Jack- 
son, and through him to the officers and soldiers of the regular 
army, of the militia, and of the volunteers, under his immediate 
command, and the officers and soldiers charged with the defence 
of fort St. Philip, for their uniform gallantry and good conduct, 
conspicuously displayed ag^nst the enemy from the time of his 
landing before New Orleans until his final expulsion from the 
state of Louisiana: and particularly for their valour, skill and good 
conduct on the 8th of January last, in repulsing, with great slaugh- 
ter, a numerous British army of chosen veteran troops, )vhen at- 
tempting by a bold and daring attack to storm and carry the 
works hastily thrown up for the defence of New Orleans, and 
thereby obtaining a most signal and complete victory over the 
enemy, with a disparity of loss on his part unexampled in military 
annals. 

Resolved^ That the president of the United States be request- 
ed to cause to be struck a gold medal, with devices emblematical 
of this splendid achievement, and presented to major-general 
Jackson, as a testimony of the high sense entertained by congress 
of his judicious and distinguished conduct on that memorable oc- 
casion. 

Reaolvedy That the president of the United' States be re- 
quested to cause the foregoing resolutions to be communicated ta 
major-general Jackson, in such terms as he may deem bestj:al( 
culated to give effect to the objects thereof. 

Resolved, That congress entertain a high sense of the valour 
and good conduct of commodore D. T. Patterson, of the officers, 
petty officers, and seamen attached to his command, for their 
prompt and efficient co-operation with general Jacksoti, in the 
late gallant' and successful defence of the city of New Orleans, 
when atfsailed by a powerful British force. 

Resolvedf That cdngi*ess ent^rtain'a hifi^h sense of the valour 
and good conduct of major Dafuel Carmick,' of the officers, non^ 



cxxiv APPENDIX. 

commisskined-officers and marinesi under his command, in the 
defence of said city, on the late memorable occasion. 



NO. LVIJL 

Letter from general Jackson to general Lambert. 
. Head-Quarters^ 7th Military District y 
SiE, J^ew Orleansy^Oth February y 1815. 

By my letter of this date, addressed to sir Alexander Coch- 
rane, you will perceive that I have fully acquiesced in your ideas 
relative to the delivery and exchange of prisoners, and you will 
herewith receive all those now herein a state to beremovcd. 

As you intimate that you do not consider the slaves as under 
your control, 1 have addressed the only further demand I shall 
make on that subject to sir Alexander Cochrane. 

Some of my officers, under a mistaken idea that deserters 
were confined with the prisoners, have, as I have understood, 
made improper applications to some of the latter to quit your 
service. It is possibte they may have in some instances succeed- 
ed in procuring either a feigned or a real consent to this effect; 
the whole of the transaction, however, met my marked reprehen- 
sion, and all the prisoners are now restored to you. But as im- 
proper allurements may have been held out to these men, it will 
be highly gratifying to my feelings to learn that no investigation 
will be made, or punishment inflicted, in consequence of the con- 
duct of those who may, under such circumstances, hav^ swerved 
from their duty. As the transaction might not have been other- 
wise disclosed to you, the notice T now take of it shows the confi- 
dence I feel that you will not make use of any implied presump- ' 
tioh to be drawn from it. 

Andrew Jaokson. 

NO. LIX. 

RESOLDTIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE OP XOUISIANA. 
JBe it resolved by the senate and house of representatives of 
the state of Louisiana ^n general assembly convened^ That the le- 
gislature of the state of Louisiana deem it their duty to proclaim 
the facts herein after stated, as bearing testimony to the zeal and 
patriotism thatwere displayed by the citizens in every part of this 
state, during the late invasion of the British. 



APPENDIX. cxxv 

At the first news of our danger^ the militia, together with a 
vast number of volunteers, flocked into New Orleans from every 
county in this state. The planters on both sides of the river, 
within a space of several leagues, cither above or below town, fur- 
nished thousands of their slaves, and sent them to every particular 
place where their labour. was thought necessaiy; it was through 
the means which were voluntarily granted by the planters, that 
most of the artillery, ammunition and provisions were transponed; 
apd whenever detachments occasionally stopped at their planta- 
tions, the latter met them with the most coixlial reception, and 
were supplied with both food and forage as the same was wanting 
or could possibly be procured. 

It should be remarked, that even those planters, whose es- 
states had already been destroyed by the enemy, or had fallen into 
his possession, far from being dismayed by the sad prospect before 
them, had only been brought to that pitch of misfortune tliat their 
love of their country might appear with a greater lustre. Thus 
at the same time that MM. Villere'«, Delaronde^ Lacoste^s and 
Bienvenu's sugar estates were laid waste, and made a prey to con- 
flagration, M. Villerfe, senior, major-general of our gallant mi- 
litia, went on a survey of the upper counties for the purpose of 
hastening re -enforcements, which, at the first call, presented 
themselves in readmess to march; and when, after his return to 
camp, he had once taken charge at the second line of the post 
that had been assigned him, he was seen there invariably to fulfil 
his duties with that wonderful tranquillity of mind which a man, 
having nothing to lose, would have hardly been capable of: yet 
this gentleman, the head of a numerous family, could not but 
know, that one hundred slaves of his own were on his plantation 
at the mercy of the British, and that all his moveable propertjr had 
already been either plundered or destroyed. 

His son, M. Viller^, jun. major of the 3d regiment, after ha- 
ving, at the peril of bis life, effected his escape from the British 
army, who had surprised him at his house, joined the forces that 
inarched to repel thie enemy on the 23d of December, and has 
ever since performed an active duty. 

The important position of Chef-Menteur was protected by 
major Lacoste at the head of his corps, consisting of free men of 



cxxvi APPENIilX. 

eolour, wkil^t his sugar estate was set to ruin and devarstatioq. 
M. Lacoste, jun. his son, though deprired of the use of one annj^ 
nevertheless shared constantly with his brother soldiers the toils 
and dangers of war. 

Mr* Delanmde, colonel of the third regiment, though he ab« 
stained from claiming that part of the service which his rank en* 
titled him to, did not disdain to serve as a g(ude, and with immi- 
nent peril continued'scouting in woods almost impracticable, both 
in the flank and rear of the British, for the purpose of reconaoi-^ 
tHng- and making known their pesition. 

In town, colonel Fortier, sen. contributed in a great measure 
to the more prompt departure for Chef^Menteur of the free 
men of colour, -already embodied, by furnishing them, at his own 
cost, with suoh!artlcles:a8tlvey stood in need of. To him also the 
country owes the formlDg and organizing a second corps x>f free 
men^ of cokwr^ to whom the brave Savary was apfitointed a ca|H 
tain. • At his'call, both captain and soldiers repaired to his housed 
to be enlisted. He personally attended t6 the arming and equips 
ping of them; and tbrotigh hie exertioBs that company under the 
command of major Daquin, was enabled to take the field and te 
face tht^'enemya* few hours afttr its • forniation. M. Fortier 
caused -also 'Several hundred of- muskets unfit for use to be re- 
pairedv 

Na soonef was it reported- that a British squadron had arri- 
ved on' our coastv t&an- the uniform -companies of the militia of 
New Orleans, under the- command of nuijor Piauch6,and'CafiCains 
P. Roohei St' Geme, Hudry, White and Guibert, and the rifle 
corps under the- command >of captain B^aie, whb had some time* 
before tendered Jtheir services, were placed at the bayou St. Jehi^ 
te wlilch.point.it was» expected the enemy would attempt to pe** 
netrate. It was from that poution those gaHant companies march* 
ed, with the rapidity of >lightningf to the plains of 'Viller6, on the 
33d of December, at the first appearance of the British* They 
trsvelled nearly twelve miies with wonderful rapidity, and fought^ 
with a bravery and resolution that \i^uld have done credit even to- 
X experienced soldiers. The first and second regiments of thena-' 
litia of New Orleans, under the command of colonel Dejan and 
25enon CaveUer, have conducted themaelves in 4he seven! posts 



APPENDIX. cxxvu 

they wcf e <:ajled upon ^ defefs^j vitb »*1 «nd cpumge. They 
have borne with j^tiepcethe {%t^e of painful marcheSf^occMion- 
ed by their being successively sept from one poeition tio Another* 
The fourth r^gwept, commaaded by Mr. G. W, Morgan, their 
cqlos^i^ wz» enlrust^d wjLth \hfi defence qf Chefi-Memeur, upoa 
major Lacoste's corps being withdrawn therefrom: they discharg* 
ed their duty in a-maiu^r that bad<e defiance to all possible at* 
tfi^p^y .on :the pSftrt toi (Jie ^spwiy^ to fo^ ce tl^at inportant .pass. 
'Three volunteer ^oops ^ bor^e^ the one k^ tbem from the Attir 
kiipas, under the command of ^ptain Pulwclay, and the other 
frpin Feliciap^ comm,anded by captain Smith, and the last Croni 
Bayou Sarah, under command of captain Griilith, had already ar* 
rived in ^own, prior to th^ laodiug of the B/'itish. Two more 
UloW^ of jhpTse w^re ^ipmej^Uately formed at N«w Orleans, headed 
by cfipt^dns Chave^ju a^d Ogden. The <xinduct of those several 
poi^s, up<» .eyiery Acicfi»i<]» wberelbeir services have beeo called 
for, deserves partipuhir matice: wad they were emxremfilj useful. 
Captain Pub^dtlf wa9 wounded in the head by a rouaket-JbaU, 
whiJ^ in the act of rallying spme xa» in an 4cogagei»ent on the 
right bank of the river. 

Oenend Thomas, geoer al Hopkins and g^enal M^neknd^ 
At this head of the gallant miitift wder their cfmmwid» ha9tened 
by forced marches from their receptive counties in order lo asrisl 
an defending the country. 

General Garrigues Flaujac, by hts patariotiam and the talents 
iie displayed, whilst the capital was ttireateoed by tb^ enemy, has 
earned Mie honour of being ranked among those who deaerved 
well of their country. 

Whilst our gallant militia were employed in Uie defence of 
the country at the several posts whi«b had been assigned t^ev^ 
0ie citizens more advanced m years, having voluntarily form* 
ed themselves into companies •£ vetertfis, attendj^d lo the 
preservation of police and civil arder in town« They greatly 
fio^uibuted by thmr good countenanee, to diaeipa^ the alarm 
created by the approach of the enemy; and by tliplr unwearied 
^exertions they inaured the apetdy and faithful eonvnyance to the 
camp of such ptrticles as were t^ be ient therew They were «Ise 
usefully employed in averseejns that the many dooUiona made by 



cxxviii APPENDIX. 

our fellow-citizens, should be both applied properly and without 
confusion. At the head of these respectable veterans appeared 
Mr. Debuys, sen. their captain. 

General Labatut had the command of the town. He perform- 
ed his task with a zeal and activity that have done him infinite 
honour. 

The mayor and city council of New Orleans, by the adop» 
tion of measures that indicate their foresight and humanity, have 
maintained our internal peace, and so far prevented a scarcity of 
provisions to be felt in town, as to make it doubtful whether the 
presence of the enemy in our neighbourhood had diminished our 
supplies. 

The attention of Mr. Nicholas Girod, the mayt>r of New 
Orleans, in the meanwhile, was extended, with gi'eat benefit, to 
each part of the service. All the means placed at his disposal 
were applied in a manner that told a skilful administrator. Such 
families as were in actual distress, were relieved, and furnished 
with provisions agreeably to a decree of the city council appro^ 
priating a sum fully adequate to this purpose of benevolence. 

The fair of New Orleans, without exception, eagerly under- 
took a variety of needle-work, for the use of the army. Many of 
them, who till then had been accustomed to do none but the nicest 
work, did not disdain sewing cloaks of the coarsest woollens. 
They gave both lint and linen for the use of the sick and wounded. 
The Ursuline nuns are also entitled to a particular notice. 
They gave admittance within the walls of their monastery to as 
many of the sick as could I'be conveniently lodged therein, and af- 
forded them every aid, conformably to the dictates of true charity. 
All the practismg surgeons and physicians in the town have 
acted so as to do the highest honour to their profession. Their 
readiness in bestowing assistance to the military who wanted itj 
was such as did not permit them to wait till an application should 
be made for their services. A sympathetic feeling led them se- 
veral miles below town to meet the wounded on the way and give 
them immediate attendance. 

A committee named by the same veterans uboye mentioned, 
whose patriotism was not merely confined to the performance of 
the miUtary duties they had willingly submitted to^ — on which 



APPENDIX. cxxix 

committee they had appomted namely, Messrs. Fortier, sen. Jh. 
Soulie, and Mr. Louaillier, a member of the house of representa- 
tives,-— was affording relief to the sick and wounded with an inde- 
fatigable zeal; procuring subscriptions for the purchase of cloth- 
ing, intended for our fellow-soldiers, who had left their homes, 
unprovided for a winter campaign. A sum exceeding fourteen 
thousand dollars was actually laid out forvthat laudable object, in- 
cluding in it the appropriation of six thousand dollars made by the 
legislature. 

Every member on that committee deserves the highesVpraise 
for their perseverance and assiduity in fulfilling their task. 

The enumeration of the corps and individuals who ha\« given 
so many proofs of patriotism and devotion to their country, ought 
not to be closed without mentioning' the governor of this state, 
whose efforts have constantly been directed towards cherishing 
the happy dispositions of the inhabitants, and whose authority to 
its utmost extent has been employed in securing the success of 
the measures adopted for the defence of this country. 

Be it further renolved by the autliority aforesaidy That each 
and every person and collection of persons mentioned in the fore- 
going statement are justly entitled to the gratitude of their country.. 

Be it further resolved by the authority aforeaaidj That it 
shall be the duty of the governor of the state of Louisiana, in the 
name of the said state, to present the corps of veterans of New 
Orleans with a stand of colours bearing the following inscription, 
*< Our sons were refielling thefoe^ we attended to the safety of their 
mothers and wivesj" and on the other side thereof will be seen a 
river, with an eagle hovering over the same, and this inscription 
on the river's bank* "/br common use^ and the benefit of all,'* 
Magloire Guichard, 

Sfieaker of the House of Re/iresentatives, 
FuLWAR Skipwith, President of the Senate, 

NO. LX. 

By the President of the United States of America. 
A PROCLAMATION. 
Among the many evils produced by the wars, which, with 
little intermission, have afflicted Europe, and extended their ra- 
vages into other quarters of the globe, for a period exceeding 
twenty years, the dispersion of a considerable portion of the inha- 

r 



cxxx APPENDIX- 

bitants of dilfbrent countries, in ionow and in want, has not been 
the least injurious to human happiness, nor the least seyere in the 
trial of human yirtue. 

It had been long ascertained that many foreigners, flying from 
the dangers of their own home, and thzk some citizens, forgetful 
of their duty, had co-operated in forming an establishment on Che 
island of Barataria, near the mouth of the rirer Mississippi, for 
the purpose of a clandestine and lawless trade. The goyemment 
of the United States caused the establishment to be broken up and 
destroyed; and, having obtained the means of designating the 
offenders of every description, it only remained %o answer the de- 
mands of justice by inflicting an exemplary punishment. 

But it has since been represented that the offenders have ma- 
nifested a sincere penitence; that they haye abandoned the prose- 
cution of the worst cause for the support of the best, and, particu- 
larly, that they have exhibited, in the defence of New Orleans, 
unequivocal traits of courage and fidelity. Offenders, who have 
refused to become the associates of the enemy in the war, upon 
the most seducing terms of invitation; and who have aided to re-^ 
pel his hostile invasion of the territory of the United States, can 
no longer be considered as objects of punishment, but as objects 
of a generous forgiveness. 

It hfts therefore been seen, with great satisfaction, that the 
general assembly of the stat<e of Louisiana earnestly recommend 
those offenders to the benefit of a full pardon: And in compliance 
with that recommendation, as well as in consideration of all the 
other extraordinary circumstances of the case, I James Mae^ony 
president of the United States of America, do iissue this procla- 
mation, hereby granting, publishing and declaring, a free and full 
pardon of all offences committed in violation of any act or acts of 
the congress of the said United States, touching the revenue, 
trade and navigation thereof, or touching the intercourse and com- 
merce of the United States with foreign nations, at any time be- 
fore the eighth day of January, in the present year one thousand 
eight humired and fift^oi, by any person or persons whatsoever, 
being inhabitants of New Orleans and the adjacent country, or 
being inhabitants of the said island of Barataria, and the places ad- 
jacent: Provided^ that bvcry person, cluming the benefit of this 
full pardon, in order to entitle himself thereto, shall produce a cer- 



AlfpJEN^lX. cxxxi 

tificate in writing from the governor of the state of Louisiana, 
stating that such person has aided in the defence of New Orleans 
and the a^ftcent eonntry^ during the invasion thereof as aforesaid. 
And I do hereby further anthorise and direct all suits, indict- 
ments, and prosecutions, for fines, penalties, and forfeitures, against 
anf persoD or persons, who shall be entitled to the benefit of this 
iUU pardon, forthwith to be stayed, discontinued and released: And 
aH cif il officers are hereby required, according to the duties of 
their respectiTe stations, to carry this proclamation into immediate 
and &ithful execution. 

DovB at the city of Washington, the sixth day of Fe- > 
braary, ia the year one thousand eight hundred imd 
fifteen, and of the independence of the United States 
tlhe tbirty^ninth; James Madison. 

By the presid^ent, James Monroe, 

JicHng Secretary of State, 

NO. LXL- 

OEOISION 09 THE COUAT MA&TIAL IN* THE CASE OH MAJOR VIL- 

lere'. 
IteadTQuarters^ Adjutant -General^ a Office j 

AVw Orleansy March 15, 1815. 

After a full examination of all the testimony for and against 
the prosecution, the court find the said major Viller6 <^ not guilty" 
of the charges and specifications exhibited against him, and do ac- 
quit him of all and every on6 of them. — And the court consider it 
due to the accused, further to declare, that ^ major Viller6 appears 
to have performed his duty, from the moment he was left in com- 
mand under the orders of major-general Viller6, with zeal and 
fidelity; and that the circumstance of his surprise and capture by 
the enemy, though .much to be regretted, might have occurred to 
the most vigilant officer, and must be attributed to the loss of the 
whole of his picquet or advanced guard, and the extraordinary ra- 
pidity with which the enemy moved from that point." 

The major-general commanding approved the foregoing sen- 
tence of the general court martial, and ordered major Villere to 
resume his sworA without delay. 

By ordex:i Robert Butler, Adj. Gen. 

NoTK.F-rMajor Viller6 did not introduce any testimony in his 
behalf. 



cxxxu APPENDIX. 

NO. LXII. 

COURT OP INQUIRY. 

Extracts of the Froceedinga qfa Omrt qf Inquiry reiatrve to the 

Retreat on the Right Bunk qf the MUtUeipfih on the %th qf 

January f 1815. 

Tbb court, on mature deliberatioD, are of opisioD that the 
conduct of colonel Davis, Dijan and Cayallier, in the acdon and 
retreat on the 8th of January, on the western bank of the MtS8i8>- 
sippi, is not reprehensible, nor da they know of any misconduct, as 
officers, in either since that time. 

The causes of the retreat are attributed to the shameful flight 
of the command of major Amaud, sent to oppose the landing of 
the enemy;—- the retreat of the Kentucky militia, which, conuder- 
ing their position, the deficiency of their arms, and other causes, 
may be excusable; — and the panic and confusion introduced in 
every part of the line, thereby occasioning the retreat and^confu- 
sion of the Orleans and Louisiana drafted militia. 

Whilst the court find much to applaud in the zeal and gal- 
lantry of the officer immediately commanding, they believe that 
a farther reason for the retreat may be found in the manner in 
which the force was posted on the line, which they consider ex- 
ceptionable. The commands of colonels Dijan, Cavallier and 
Declauett, composing five hundred men, supported by three pieces 
of artillery, having in front a strong breastwork, occupying only a 
space of two hundred yards, whilst the Kentucky militia, only one 
hundred and seventy men strong, without artillery, occupied more 
than three hundred yards, covered by a small ditch only. 

Wh. Carroll, Maj. Gen. President of the Court. 



NO. LXIII. 

COURT or INQUIRY. 
^it a Court of Inquiry aaaembled in the Naval arsenal j at Nevf Or* 
leansj by order of commodore Daniel T. Patterson^ command* 
ing the naval forces of the United States^ on the J^evf Orleans 
station^ and continued by adjournment from day to dayf-^from. 
Monday the ISth^ until Friday the 19 th of May ^ 1815 — 
Present — Master commandant, Louis Alexis, firesident*^ 
I/ieutenant commandant Charles C. fe. Thompson, and lieutenant 
Charles E* Crawley, membera^-^for the purpose of investigatii^ 



APPENDIX. cxxxifi 

the conduct of the officers and men of the late division of Uni- 
ted States* gun vessels, under the command of lieutenant com- 
mandant Thomas Ap C. Jones, captured by a flotilla of British 
barges and lanches, on the 14th of December, 1814. The court 
being organized, agreeably to form, commenced with the exami- 
nation of the testimony in relation to the conduct of die commanding 
officer of the division; and after hearing attentively all the evi- 
dence that could be produced on that subject, proceeded to a mi- 
nute investigation of the whole affair. 

It appears to the court, that on the 12th of December last, 
the British fleet first made its appearance off Cat and Ship 
ialands-^that lieutenant commandant Jones, after having recon- 
noitred with his division of gun-vessels, five in number, andascer- 
^ined the state of the enemy's force, on the 13th, a fiotiHa of the 
enemy's barges appearing to advance, attempted to reach the fort 
at the Petty Coquilles, but that in consequence of the current 
being ahead, and the wind ftxling, he was prevented from getting 
any further than the Malheureux islands, where he anchored bis 
gun-vessels between twelve and two at night. 

It appears to the courts that on the morning of the 14th, the 
enemy's flotilla being perceived to be still advancing, he placed 
his division in the, best position to receive them, and to oppose 
their passage*— that the enemy advanced to the attack in the 
course of the forenoon, and that the number of the barges and 
lanches to which the gun-vessels were opposed was between for- 
ty-five and fifty. , 

It appears to the court, that about one-third of this number 
attacked the flag- vessel* No. 156, while the others surrounded 
chiefly No. 162 and 163, and that after lieutenant commandant 
Jones had been very severely wounded, Mr. George Parker, his 
master's mate, continued the action until overpowered by num- 
bers, to which no effectual resistance could be made; during which 
time several of the enemy's barges were sunk alongside, and great 
slaughter done in others 

It appears to the court, that gun-vessel No. 163 was the se- 
cond vessel carried, after a gallant opposition, havbg previously 
kept off the enemy for some time, and being entirely surrounded. 

It appears to the covirt, that gun-vessel No. 143, was the 
vessel next carried; that this was not effected, however, until hec 



rxx^T APPENDIX. 

commander, lieutenant Shedden, had been most severely wound- 
ed (jerho, nevertheless, remained on deck and continued to give 
orders to the last^) nor until she was completely surrounded by 
the enemy, who suffered greatly in the contest. 

It appears to llie court, that Na 5, sailing-master Ferris, was 
the next vessel that fell into the hands of t^e enemy — ^that the 
enemy succeeded in boarding her at a timc^ when further resist- 
ance was rendered ineffectual by the dismounting of her twenty- 
four pounder, and when the fire from the other gim-vessels had 
been turned upon her, after their capture. 

It appears to the court, that No. 33, lieutenant M'Keever, was 
the last vessel captured, wid that this was QiFected at about half 
past twelve o'clock, after the enemy had succeeded in turning tke 
iire of the other gw-vessels, pre^lodsly capuured^ upon her. 

It also appears to the courts that the .haifges and lanches of 
the enemy were all moumed with oanm)6„ htiLlmd from a thou* 
sand to twelve hundred men on boatd, armed iti the best possible 
manner. 

And, lastly, it further appears to the coorty that after gun- 
vessel No. 156 had been captured by the enemy, her fire was 
turned upon the other gun vessels, and continued for a considera- 
ble time under the Ameiican colours. 

The result of this inquiry is, a unanimous opinion, that lieu- 
tenant commandant Jones evinced by his movements, previous to 
the action, a judgment highly creditable to his character^— diat 
when an attack had become certain, he availed himself of every 
means to gain the l>e8t position for his squadron; and that, during 
the subsequent engagement, when opposed to a force of at least 
nine times his number, in large, well-appointed boats, formidably 
armed, he evinced a firmness and intrepidity worthy the emula- 
tion of his countrymen, and reflecting the highest honour on the 
service to which be belongs. 

The court likewise conceive, that midsltipman Parker, who 
acted as master's-mate during the action, on board the flag- ves- 
sel, displayed, in his determined resistance to the enemy, after the 
fall of his commander, the most signal bravery; and that he merits, 
in an especial degree, the notice of his government. ^ 

The court feels gratified in expressing the opinion, that the 
brave crew of gun- vessel No. 156 forcibly felt the example o*' 



APPENDIX. cxxxv 

their officers; and that, under its influence, they maintidned a most 
unequal conflict, with unparalleled destruction to the enemy, un- 
til they were home down by numbers to which no opposition 
could be mside.— Nor did the fall of this vessel, by which the ene- 
my's force was not only increased, but, by her position, in a great 
measure covered, check the ardour of the gallant defenders of 
the rest of the squadrqn; for we find them contending as long as 
the least prospect of annoying the enemy lasted; their exertions 
unimpaired by their loss, and yielding at last, in succession only, 
to the concentrated force of the enemy, brought to act against 
each vessel. 

With the clearest evidence for their guide, the court expe- 
rience the most heartfelt gratification in declaring the opinion, 
that lieutenant commandant Jones, and his gallant supporters, 
lieutenants Spedden and M'Keever, sailing-masters Ulrich and 
Ferris, their officers and men, performed their duty on this occa* 
sion in the most able and gallant manner, and that the action has 
added another and distinguished honour to the naval character of 

our country. 

Louis Alsxis, 

Master Commandant U, S. Mivy, 

G. Davis, 

Officiating Judge Advocate, 

In approving the proceedings and opinion of the court of in- 
quiry, I avail myself with pleasure of the favourable occasion thus 
afforded me to express my admiration of the gallantry and skill 
displayed by lieutenant Jones, and his brave companions, in the 
defence made by them against so overwhelming a force a^ not to 
afford a prospect of success, to which the enemy were astonished 
to find a resistance offered. In this unequal contest I trust it will 
be found, that the national and naval character has been nobly sus- 
tained*-that the resistance of the attack of so very superior a 
force has contributed, in no small degree, to the eventual safety 
of this city. 

The proceedings and opinion of the court of inquiry, of which 
master commandant Louis Alexis is president, are approved. 

Daniel T. Patterson, 
Cajitain V, S, JSTavy^ com*g. .V, 0. Station, 



cxxxvi APPENDIX. 

NO. LXIV. 

^ lUt of the several cor/i9 comfioaing the British army at the time 
of its landing on the shores of the Mississififiiy vfith an estimate 
of their resfiectrve force. 
-** 4th^giment, king's own, lieutenant-colonel Fran- </ , 7 

cis Brooke • 750 strong v 

- 7th ' do. Royal Fusiliers, lieutenant-colonel £. 

Blakeney «50 ' 

— ^14th do. Duchess of York's own (light dragoons) 

lieutenant-colonel C. M. Baker ... 350 ' "^ ' 
— --2 Ist**^ do. Royal North Britain fusiliers, lieutenant- ^ ^ 

colonel W. Patterson - - - - 900 *f'' 
. 40th do. Sommersetshire, lieutenant-colonel H. 

Thornton 1000 

43d do. Monmouth (light infantry) lieutenant- 
colonel Patrickson -- - . - 850 
--«44th do. East Essex, lieutenant-colonel honour- 
able Thomas Mullen - - - - 750 01^ "■ 
— ^85th ^ do. Buck volunteers (light infantry) lieuten- 
ant- colonel William Thornton - - - 650 ^/^^ 
"^93d^ do. Highland, lieutenant-colonel Robert Dale 11 00 • ^"^ * 
— ^95tht do. Rifle corps, major Samuel Mitchell - 500 '^ ^ ^ 
-^ 1st do. West India, lieutenant-colonel C. W. ^ ^ - 

Whitby 700 '^ , 

•-^5th do. West India, lieutenant-colonel A. M. K. / ui 

Hamilton 700 '^ ' 

A detachment from the^62d regiment - - 350 

^ Rocket brigade, artillery, drivers, engineers, ''sap- 
pers and miners - - - - . - 1500 

Royal mai*ines 1500 

Sailors taken from the fleet .... 2000 

Total 14,450 

* Of this regiment we have seen two returns signed by D. Derran, adju- 
tant, of the l7th December and 5th Januaiy, each of which justify the amouut 
here given—its establishment was one thousand two hundred and eight. 

t This regiment consists of three battalions, of one thousand men each* 
of which only a demi-battalion was sent to Louisiana. 



APPENDIX. cxxxvii 

Staff of the British Armu^ 

Sir Edward M. Packenhain, colonel of the 7th regiment of foot% 
lieutenant-general commander-in-chief of the expedition. 

Major-general Samuel Gibbs, colonel of the 59th regiment of foot, 
commanding the first division. 

Major-general John Lambert, colonel 1st regiment foot- guards, 
commanding the second division. 

Major-general John Keane, colonel 60th regiment of foot, com- 
manding the third division. 

Lieutenant-colonel John Dixon of the royal artillery, commanding 
the artillery. 

Lieutenant-colonel Burgoyne,of the royal engineers, commanding 
the engineer department. 

Lieutenant-colonel Steven, adjutant- general. ^ 

Lieutenant-colonel Bell, quarter-master-^neral. 

Lieutenant-colonel Bradford and major Smith, military secretaries, 

Mr. Soane, purveyor-general. 

Mr. Hunter, paymaster-general. 

Mr. Moody, commissary- general. 

Doctor John Robb, inspector-general of hospitals. 

Doctor Thomson, inspector of hospitals. 

In addition to the above, T give the following letter as cor- 
roborating the above statement. 

Letter from Robert Morrell^ M. D, to major Latour. 

JSTexo Orleans^ Afiril 8, 1815. 
Sir, ' . > ' 

During my detention in the British fleet, the officers, both 

Tiaval and military, with whom I had an opportunity to converse, 
always estimated their force here on the 8th January, at ten thou- 
sand regular troops at least. An incident occurred relating to this 
subject on the evening of the 7th January, which you may think 
worth communicating; This day I had accidentally omitted to wear 
uniform: while at supper with tlie ward-room oflicei-s of the Gor- 
gon frigate, a military officer, (whose name I disremember) was 
introduced as coming directly from camp; he took a seat at table, 
and began to talk freely about the situation of the army, his busi- 
ness in the fleet, and addressing himself principally to me, he hav- 
ing taken up the idea I was first lieutenant of the ship. After 
various inquiries about the two lines, I asked the number of Bri- 

s 



cxxxviii APPENDIX. 

tish he supposed xnig^ht be •n shore, he replied^ when ihe last rc* 
enforcements would be landed (which he had met three daye bo- 
fore near Viller6's canal) there would be, marines and sailors in- 
clusive, from thirteen to fifteen thousand men; he was certain o^ 
this, for he had seen some returns previous to his departure; this 
was an intelligent officer) having the grade of captain, who bad 
been sent by the commander-in-chief to ascertain the quantity of 
provisions in the fleet. 

1 am, &c. 

Robert Morrell, M. D. 

United States Yavy. 

SO. LXVI. 

No. 1. ' 
London, Admiralty Office^ March 9, 1815. 
Dfufiatchea addressed by Vice-Admiral the honourable Sir jflexaU' 

der Cochrane, G, C. B. tsTc, to John Wilson Croker, Esq. 

Armide, off Isle au Chat, Dec. 16, 1814. 

Sir — Having arrived at the anchorage, off Chandeleur islands, 
on the 8th inst. captain Gordon, of the Seahorse, (which ship, with 
the Armide and Sophie, I had sent on from off Pensacola to the an- 
chorage within Isle au Vaisseau) reported to me thW two gun- 
vessels of the enemy, apparently large sized sloops, of very light 
draught of water, had fired at the Armide, upon her way down' 
from within the chain of small islands that run parallel to the 
' coast from Mobile towards Lac Borgne, and having afterward* 
joined three others, cruising in the lake, were then visible from 
his mast head. 

The Bayone Catalan, (or des Pecheurs) at the head of Lac 
Borgne, being the contemplated point of disembarkation, the dis- 
tance from the inner anchorage of the frigates and* troop-ships 
to the Bayone full sixty miles, and our principal means of trans- 
port open boats, it became impossible thWt any movement of the 
troops could take place till this formidable flotilla was either cap- 
tured or destroyed. 

Rear-admiral Malcolm joined me with the fleet upon the 
1 1th instant, and upon the 12th I placed the lanches, barges, and 
pinnaces of the squadron, with captain Montressor, (rf'the Manly, 



APPENDIX. cxnw 

and captain Robeiits, 6f the Meteor, under the cofamand of cap- 
t^n Lockyer, of the Sophie, and sent them into Lac Borgne» in 
pursuit of the eaemyy while the frigates, troop-ships, and smaller 
vessels, moYod iBto the inmost anchorage, each vessel proceeding 
on until she took the ground. 

After an arduous row of thirty*six hours, captain Lockyer 
had the good fortune to close with the flotilla, which he attacked 
^with such judgment and determined bravery^ that, notwithstanding 
+ their formidable force, their advantage of a chosen position, and 
their studied and deliberate preparation, he succeeded in cap- 
turing the whole of the vessels, in so serviceable a state as to 
afford at once the most essential aid to the expedition. 

For the particulars of this brilUant affair, I refer their lord- ' 
abipe to the accompanying copy of captain Lockyer's letter^ detail- 
ing his proceedings, which, I am fully aware, their lordships will 
duly appreciate. 

Captain Lockyer's conduct on thiaoocasioo, in which he has 
been severely wounded, and his long and actual services as a com- 
mander, justly entitling him to their lordship's protecticMi, and 
finding it expedient to place this flotilla collectively upon the es- 
tabliahment of a thir^-six gun frigate, I have appointed him to 
tbo command th^eqC 

Qaptain Mqntreasor, whom I have placed in the comnumd of 
the gun-vesaels untU captain Lockyer's wounds will admit of his 
^rving, and captain Roberts, whom I have before had occasion 
to mention to their lordships, together with lieutenants Tatnell and 
l^oberts, %nd tjl^e oScers mentioned by captain Lockyer, I trust 
will not fail to meet their lordship's notice. 

Our loss has been severe, particularly in offlcers; but, consi- 
dering that this successful eiiitei^rise has given us thexommand 
of Lac Borgne, and considerably reduced our deficiency of transk- 
portsy the effort has answered my fullest expectatiops. 

I have the hono\tf to be, ^cc 

Alsxakov^ CooHR4N£, 
Fke^'f^imirtil and Commander-iU'cMef. 



cxl APPENDIX. 

Letter from MchoUtB Lockyer to admiral Cochrane. 

H, M, sloofi SofiAiCj Cat Itiand Boadsy December IT, 1814. 

Sir— *I beg leave to inform you, that in pursuance of your 
orders the boats of the squadron, which you did me the honour to 
place under my command, were formed into three divisions, (the 
first headed by myself, the second by captain Montressor, of the 
Manly, and the third by captain Roberts, of the Meteor) and pro- 
ceeded, on the night of the 12th instwit, from the frigate's anchor- 
age in quest of the enemy's flotilla. 

After a very tedious row of thirty-six hours, during which 
the enemy attempted to escape from us, the wind fortunately 
obliged him to anchor off St. Joseph's island, and neariag him, on 
the morning of the 14th, I discovered his force to consist of five 
gun vessels of the largest dimensions, which were moored in » 
line abreast, with springs oo their cables, albd boarding nettings 
triced up, evidently prepared fpr our reception. 

Observing also, as we approached the flotilla, an armed 
sloop* endeavouring to join them, captain Roberts, who volun- 
. teered ta take her with part * of his division, succeeded in cutting 
her off and capturing her, without much opposition. 

About ten o'clock, having closed to, within long gun-shot, I 
directed the boats to come to a grapnel, and the people to get 
their breakfasts; and as soon as they had finished we again took 
to our oars, and pulling up to the enemy against a strong currents 
running at the rate of nearly three miles an hour, exposed to a 
heavy and destructive fire of round and grape, about noon I bad 
the satisfiiction of cloabg with the commodore in the Seahorse's 
barge. 

After several minutes* obstinate resistance, in which the 
greater part of the officers and crew of this boat were either kill- 
ed or wounded, myself among the latter, severely, we succeeded 
in boarding, and being seconded by the Seahorse's first bargej 
commanded by Mr. White, midshipman, and aided by the boats 
of the Tonnant, commanded by lieutenant Tatnell, we soon car- 
ried her, and turned her guns with good effect upon the remaio* 
ing four. ' 

* This 'ahiied sl«op/ whkh reqaiied a dWisiop of barftt imctftvt 
iMJ^ted oae fi»r4>ouader. tnd canned eight mca. 



APPENDIX. cxli 

During this dme captain Montressor's division was making 
every possible exertion to close with the enemy, and, with' the as- 
sistance of the other boats, then joined by captain Roberts, in 
about five minutes we had possession of the whole of the flotilla. 

I have to lament the loss of many of my brave and gallant 
companions, who gloriously fell in this attack; but considering 
the great strength of the enemy's vesnels, (whose force under^ 
neath described) and their state of preparation, we have by no 
means suffered so severely as might have been expected. 

I am under the greatest obligations to the officers, seamen 
and marines, I had the honour to command on this occasion, to 
whose gallantry and exertions the service isindebted for the capture 
of these vessels; any comments of mine would fall short of the 
praise due to them. I am especially indebted to captains Mon- 
tressorand Roberts, lor their advice and assistance. They are 
entitled to more than I can say of them, and have ray best thanks 
for the admirable style in which they pushed on with their divi- 
sions to the captume of the remainder of the enemy's flotilla. 

In an expedition of this kind^ where so many were concerned, 
and* so much personal exertion and bravery was displayed, I find 
it impossible to pardcularixe every individual who distinguished 
himself^ and deserves to be well-spoken of; but I feel it my duty 
to mention those whose behaviour fell immediately under my own 
eye. 

Lieutenant George Pratt, second of the Seahorse, who com- 
manded that ship's boats, and was in the same boat with me, con- 
ducted himself to that admiration which I cannot sufficiently ex- 
press. In his attempt to board the enemy he was several times 
severely wounded, and at last so dangerously, that I fear the ser- 
vice will be deprived of thu gallant and promising young officer. 

I cannot omit to mention also the conduct of lieutenants Tat- 
nell and Roberts, of the Totinant, particularly the former, who^ 
after having his boat sunk al<»igside, got into another, and gallant* 
ly pushed on to the attack of the reminder of the flotilla. Lieu- 
Cfinant Roberts was wounded in closing with the enemy. 

I have Uie honour to be, Bee. 
Nicholas Looxvaxi Ci^tiHII^ 



y 



cjUu appendix. 

Nq. 1 — Guft-veasel, i loB|p iwcoty-fbur^HMindcf, 4 twdte-pomid 

cafronades^ and 4 swivels^ with a coxnpkoifint of 45 men; 

captaifi Jiooesy commodore.. 
No. d-^'GunrTeasel) 1 kng tbirty-two-poander) 4 long six-podind- 

ers>. 2 fire-inch hoviuersi and 4 swif el v with a complemoDt 

of 44 men; lifintenant M^Ives [M'K.eever.] 
No. 3«f-Gii0hve8ae}» \ lobg tw«nt7-four*pounder>4 loi^ aix^'pouod- 

er% aod 4 &wiTeLi» with a complemeot of 45 men. 
No. 4^Gnn*ve»sel^ I Icmg twefHy-foui^ponnder, 4 twelve^pound 

caf I'dwbdea, with a complomont of 45 men. 
No. 5— Gua-veaseit 1 \&&^ twenty-Jbur-pouader) 4 tvel?e*poun4 

carronadeB) with a oompkimewt of 45 m^. 
No. 6"^Aniicd sloop) i long aix- pounder, 2 twelve*pound car* 

ronttfkas wUh % 94Wfi)eiQiei»( of 30 men. 

Nl«HOi.A& LooKTEKt G|M«tlf« 

yi liH qfkilM an4 mwrnd^ m r^ ko^a qfhia maieatyU «A^| «; 

tfu cafUute qf ihc.Ammcan gun vcaatUy ntor J/ev^ OHcmna^ 
Tonnant— 1 aUa Mamiaot 2<MrdiDai7 seamen» kiU^i 1 lieutenant^ 

4 xudsluproen, 4 able aeameni 4 ord^uury aeamen, a lands* 

men, a private oaarinea) wounded. 
Norge^^l quarterTmaster> killed} 1 iaaster's«niaJtey4abtefleamenj 

Sordinafy aeamen^ 1 private marine, wounded. 
Bedford — 1 seamen, killed; 2 lieutenants, 1 master's-mate, 2 sea- 

men>woundied* 
Koyal Oak-^i seam«A> wounded^ 
Ramilie«^ seaimm, kilM; 9 aeameni wounded- 
Anuide — 1 seaiaMi, killod. f 

Cydnus^L mid^pmaiiii \ aeamsn, 2 privaJbe macine^ wounded. 
Seahorse— ^1 mMfUpman, I volunteer of tUe first clas^ 1 abl« sea- 
man, \ ordinary aesAum, I landnuui, 4 private marinea^ killed; 
^ 1 lieutenant f f marines, 7 aUc seamen, 7 ordmsry setmtti^ 

1 landman, 4 priiia&e laarines, woojaded. 
Traave— 1 volunteor of the first class, I eaptaia of the forelepy 

killed; 1 private marine, woundeit 
Sophi^^i captain, wounded* 
Meteor-*) sQamen, wownded. 
Belle Poulc — 2 seamen, wounded. 
Gorgon— I master's mate, wounded. 



APPENDIX, cxliii 

Total— 3«iiadthipflieiiy 13 seamen, 1 private tnarine, killed; I cap- 
tain, 4 lieutenants, 1 lieutenant of marines, 3 master's-mates, 
7 midshipmen, 50 seamen, 1 1 marines, wotinded.' 

No. 2. 

Letter Jrom major-general Keane to major-general Packenham, 

Camp #11 the Uft bank 9/ tie JIGmsnppi, mne mUetfrom J^ev Orieane, 

December "216, 1814. 
Sir, 

I HAVE the honour to inform you, that between the lYth and 
22d inst the troops destined for the attack of New Orleans, were 
collected at Isle aux Poix, which is at the entrance of the Pearl 
river. 

Having learnt that it was possible to effect a landing at the 
iiead of the bayou Calalan, which runs into lake Borgne, I direct- 
ed major Forrest, asustant quarter-master-general, to have it rc- 
connoitered. Lieutenant Peddle, of that department, accompanied 
by the hon. captain Spenser, of the navy, ascertained on the night 
of the 18th, that boats could reach the head of the bayou, from 
which a communication might be made to the high road on the 
left bank of the Mississippi, leading -to New Orleans. 

On the morning of the 23d, every arrangement being made 
hy vice-admiral the hon. sir Alexander Cochrane, I determined 
to attempt it. The light brigade, composed of the 85th and 95th 
regiments, captain Lane's rocketeers, one hundred sappers and 
miners, and the 4th regimbnt as a support, the whole under the 
command of colonel Thornton, were placed in the boats, and the 
2 1 St, 44th, and 93d regiments, under colonel Brooke, and a large 
proportion of artillery, under major Munro, were embarked in 
small vessels. 

At ten A. M. on the 22d, we sailed from Pearl river, £nd 
reached the head of the bayou at day-light next morning. A land- 
ing was immediately effected without an^ other opposition than 
the country presented. Captain Blanchard, of the royal engineers, 
in the course of two hours opened a communication through seve- 
ral fields of reeds, intersected by deep muddy ditches, bordered 
by a low swampy wood. Colonel Thornton then advanced and 
gained the high road, taking up a position with the right resting 



cxiiv ' APPENDIX. 

on ihe road, and the left on the Mississippi. In this utuation I in- 
tended to remain until the boats returned for the rest of the troops 
to the vessels, some of which grounded at a great distance. 

At about eight o'clock in the evening, when the men, much 
fatigued by the length of time they had been in the boats, were 
asleep in their bivouac, a heavy flanking fire of round and grape 
shot was opened upon them, by a large schooner and two gun-ves- 
sels, which had dropped down the river from the' town, and an- 
chored abreast of our fires; — immediate steps were necessary to 
cover the men, and colonel Thornton in the most prompt and ju- 
dicious manner, placed his brigade under the inward slope of the 
bank of the river, as did also lieutenant-colonel Brooke, of the 4th 
regiment, behind some buildings which were near that corps. 
This movement was so rapid that the troops suffered no more than 
a single casualty. 

The three-pounders, being the only guns up, the success of 
a few twelve-pound rockets, directed by captain Lane, was tried 
against these vessels; but. the ground on which it was necessary to 
lay them not being even, they were found not to answer, and their 
firing was ceased. 

A most vigorous attack was theii made on the advanced 
front and right flank picquets, the former of the 95th under cap- 
tain Hallan, the latter the 85th under captain Schaw; these officers 
and their respective picquets, conducted themselves with firm- 
ness, and checked the enemy for a considerable time; but renew- 
ing their attack with a large force, %nd pressing at these points, 
colonel Thornton judged it necessary to move up the remainder 
of both corps. The 85th regiment was commanded by brevet ma- 
jor Gubbins, whose conduct cannot be too much commended; on the 
approach of his regiment to the point of attack, the enemy, favour- 
ed by the darkness of the night, concealed themselves under a high 
fence which separated the fields, and calling to the men as friends, 
under pretence of being part of their own force, offered to assist 
them in getting over, which was no sooner accomplished, than the 
S5th found itself in the midst of very superior numbers, who, dis- 
covering themselves, called on the regiment immediately to sur- 
render — the answer was an instantaneous attack; a more cxtraor- 
dinary conflict has perhaps never occurred, absolutely hand to 
hand both officers and men. It terminated in the repulse of the 



APPENDIX. cxly 

enemy, with the capture of thirty prisoners. A similar finesse was 
attempted with the 95th regiment, which met the same treatment. 

The enemy finding his reiterated attacks were repulsed by 
colonel Thornton, at half past ten o'clock advanced a large column 
against our centre; perceiving his intention, I directed colonel 
Stovin to order lieutenant-colonel Dale, with one hundred and 
thirty men of the 93d regiment, who had just reached the camp, 
to move forward and uie the bayonet, holding the 4th regiment in 
hand, formed in line, as my last reserve. Colonel Dale endea- 
voured to execute the orders, but the crafty enemy would not meet 
him, seeing the steadiness of his small body, gave it a heavy fire, 
and quickly retired. Colonel Brooke, with four companies of the 
21st regiment, fortunately appeared at that moment on our right 
flank, and sufficiently secured it from further attack. 

The enemy now determined on making a last effort, and col- 
lecting the whole of his force, formed an extensive line, and moved 
directly agaunst the light brigade. At first this line drove in^all 
the advanced posts, but colonel Thornton, whose noble exertions 
had guaranteed all former success, was at hand; he rallied his 
brave comrades round him, and moving forward with a firm de- 
termination of charging, appalled the enemy, who, from the les- 
son he had received on the same ground in the eariy part of the 
evening, thought it prudent to retire, and did not again dare to ad- 
vance. It was now twelve o'clock, and the firing ceased on both sides. 

From the best information I can obtain, the enemy's force 
amounted to five thousand men, and was commanded by major- 
general Jackson; judging from the number left on the field, his 
loss must have been severe. I now beg leave to enclose a list of 
our casualties on that night, and have only to hope it will appear 
to you that every officer and soldier on shore did his duty. 

To sir Alexander Cochrane I feel particularly obliged for 
his very friendly counsel an'd ready compliance with every wish I 
expressed respecting the service or welfare of the troops. 

To rear-admiral Malcom, and the several captains employed 

in the landing, &c. I confess the greatest obligation. 1 must leave 

it to the vice-admiral to do them the justice they so much deserve, 

for I cannot find vfords to express the exertions made by every 

branch of the navy, since the period of our arrival on this cojist. 

t 



cxlvi ^ APPENDIX. 

In the attack made on the centre^ lieutenant-colonel ^toviiii 
assistant adjutant-general, received a severe wound, which de- 
\ prived me of his able services; to him and major Forrest, assist- 
ant quarter-master-general, I feel greatly indebted; they are both 
officers of great merit; colonel Brooke is entitled to every prais« 
for securing our right fiank. 

To cokmel Thornton I feel particularly grateful; his conduct 
on the night of the 33d, I shall ever admire and honour. He head- 
ed his brigade in the most spirited manner, and afforded it a bril- 
liant example of active courage and cool determinadon. 

. I have every reason to be satisfied with lieutenant-colonel 
Brooke, commanding^ the 4th regiment; as abo with major Mit- 
chell, of the 95th, who was unfortunately taken prisoner at the 
close of the affair^ 

The exertions of major Monro of the royal artillery, were un- 
remitting; to him, and the oflBtcers under his command, I feel every 
obligation. The assistance given by captain Blanchard, and the 
officers of the royal engineers, was most conspicuous, and entitle 
them to my best tkanks. 

Brevet major Hooper, acting deputy^assistant adjutant-gene- 
ral, was attached to the light brigade.' Colonel Thornton states, 
that he derived the greatest benefit from his activity, zeal, and 
judgments I regret to have to add, that he was very severely 
wounded, and had his leg amputated in the course of the night. 

The inde&tigable zeal and intelligence displayed by lieute- 
nants Peddie and Evans, of the quarter-master-general's depart-* 
ment, entitle them to the mK>8t favourable consideration. 

Assistant commissary-general Wemyss's arrangements were 
satisfactory, and deputy-inspector Thompson claims my best ac- 
knowledgments, for the care and attention shown the wounded, the 
whole of whom were collected, dressed, and comfortably lodged 
before two in the morning. 

Major MUIb, of the Uth light dragoons, accompanie,d me on- 
shore^ from him, captain Persse, my aid de-camp, and the hon. 
lieutenant Curzon, naval aid-de-camp, I received every assistance. 

Trusting that the steps I pursued, while in command, will 
meet your approbation, 

I have the honour to be, kc. 
(Signed) John Kbane, major-generaL 



APPENDIX. cxlvU 



No. 3. 

FsXtractfrom the Journal qfthc movements qfthe army em/iloyed 
on the southern coast of J^orth America, 

On the evening of the 25th December, 1814, majors-general 
sir E. Pakenham arrived and assumed the command of the army. 

On the 26th at daylight our batteries opened on the enemy's 
schooner, then lying on the opposite bank of the river, .and which 
had occasionally cannonaded our line the preceding days. The 
effect was such as to set her on fire, and at 9 A. M. she blew up. 
A ship armed with sixteen long twenty-four pounders, which 
came down the day befiDre to a position abreast of our advance, no 
sooner saw the fate of the schooner than she got under way and 
ran up the river. 

On the 37th at daylight the troops moved forward in two 
columns, driving in the enemy's pickets to within six miles of the 
town, where their main body was discovered strmigly posted be* 
hind a canal, having a breastwork in their fmit, the extent from 
right to left being about one thousand yards; their right rested on 
the Mississippi, and was further protected by the armed ship 
moored in a posidon to enfilade our columns as th<iy advanced—^ 
their left touched the wood. This wood extends in a parallel di- 
rection with the river, and is, in general, distant from it one thou- 
sand to fifteen hundred yards. The intermediate space is inter- 
sected by strong horizontal railings and a wet ditch or drain, and 
is principally planted with sugar-canes. Considerable houses, 
with large out-buildings and negro huts attached, are scattered at 
irregular distances along this tract. 

The left column, under major-general Keane, advanced along 
the midn road to within about eight hundred yards of the enemy's 
right, when he opened from two guns upon the head of our co- 
lumn; upon this it was moved off the road to the right, under co- 
ver of some houses. The ship at the same- time opened an enfi- 
lading fire upon our left, and kept up an incessant cannonade lor 
above an hour. The columns were now deployed, and the line 
ordered to lie down, our right pickets touching the woed. The 
enemy cannonaded us from four guns in his lincj astffKillilllioahip 



cxlvUi APPENDIX. 

during the day, but with little effect. In the evening the troops 
were retired beyond reach of the onemy*^ guns, and directed to 
hut themselves. Ground was also marked out for a redoubt on 
our flank, and the guns on our left covered them from the enemy's 
fire. 

From the 28th to the 31st every exertion was made to get 
^p from the ships ten eighteen-pound and four twenty-four-pound 
carronades, with the ammunition and stores. These were brought 
up the canal in boats \o witliin a quarter of a mile of the main 
xxMid, and thence transported on carriages of the country or our 
own limbers, by the seamen, with incredible labour. The wca* 
ther was fortunately fair, and the road consequently good. 

The enemy, during this period, established two batteries oC 
one gun each on the opposite bank of the river, and occasionally 
threw shot into our camp with some effect. 

Four eighteen-pounders were placed in a battei^y formed 
with hogsheads of sugar, on the main road, to fire upon the ship 
if she dropped down the river. 

Preparations were also made to establish batteries, one of 
fltx eighteen-pounders to break tlie enemy's Ime, and the four 
tweaty-'four-pound carronades, and the field-gun and howitzers 
were to keep the fire of the enemy under, whilst the troops were 
to be moved forward to storm the works so soon as a practicable 
breach was effected. , 

On the night of the 3 1st December working parties were 
employed in throwing up the batteries and getting in the guns. 
In this they were most materially assisted by the seftme^ ui^er 
captain sir Thomas Trouhridgea before daylight the whole was 
completed, and the batteries ready to open. 

The morning of the Ist January was fc^gy) and objects could 
not be discerned at any distance until mne o'clock, when our bat^ 
teries opened. The enemy soon returned our fir^i and a matuai 
cannonade took place:-*Oar batteries made little impression upon 
the enemy's parapet. The order for the assault was therefore 
not carried. into effect. The troops remained, in this advanced 
position, and orders were given to retire the guns in the night. 
The evening changed to wet, and the ground became in coose* 
quence so deep, that it required the exertions of the whole army 



APPENDIX. cxKx 

as a working party, aided by the seamen, to retire the guns a 
short distance before d&ylight The army then fell back to the 
position it occupied on the 3 1 st. 

C. R. Forrest, jt. Q. R. M. G. 



No. 4. 

DESPATCH FROM GENERAL LAMBERT TO LORD BATRURST. 

Camfi in front of the enemy* 9 line before Kev9 Orleansy 

Janizary 10, 1815. 
Mt Lord, 

It becomes my duty to lay before your lordship the proceed- 
ings of the force lately employed on the coast of Louisiana, un- 
der the command of major-general sir £. M. Pakenham, K. B. 
and acting in concert with vice-admiral the honourable sir A. 
Cochrane, K. B. 

The report which I enclose from major-general Keane will 
put your lordship in possession of tlie^ occurrences which took 
place until the arrival of major-general the hon. sir £. M. Paken* 
ham, to assume the command: from that period I send an extract 
of the journal of major Forrest, assistant-quarter-maater-general, 
up to the time of joining the troops (which sailed on the 36th 
October last under my command) and which was on the 6th Ja- 
nuary; and from that period I shall detail, as well as I am able, 
tbe subsequent events. 

I found the army in position, in a flat country, with the 
Mississippi on its left, and a thick extensive wood en its right, 
and open to its front, from which the enemy's line was quite dis- 
tinguishable. 

It seems sir £. Pakenham had waited for the arrival of the 
fusileers and the 4Sd regiment, in order to make a general attack 
upon the enemy's line; and on the 8th the army was formed for 
that object. 

In order to give your lordship as clear a view as I can, I 
shall state the position of the enemy. On the left bank of the ri« 
yer it was simply a straight line^f a front of about one thousand 
yards, with a parapet, the right resting on the river and the left 
on a wood, which bad been rendered impracticable for any body 



cr APPENDIX. 

of troops to pass. This line wad strengthened by flank works, 
and had a canal of four feet deep, but not always of an equal 
width; it was supposed to narrow towards their left. About eight 
heavy guns were in position on this line. The Mississippi is here 
about eight hundred yards wide, a^nd they had on the right bank a 
heavy battery of twelve guns, which enfiladed the whole front of 
the position on the left bank. 

Preparations were made on our side with very considerable 
labour, to clear out and widen a canal that commuiucated with a 
stream by which the boats had passed up to the place of disem- 
barkation, to open it into the Mississippi, by which means troops 
could be got over to the right bank, and the co-operation of arm- 
ed boats would be secured. 

The disposition for the attack was as follows: a corps con- 
sisting of the 85th light infantry, two hundred seamen, and four 
hundred marines, the 5th West-India regiment, and four pieces 
of artillery, under the command of colonel TJiomton of the 85th, 
was to pass over during the night, and move along the right bank 
towards New Orleans, clearing its front, until it reached the flank* 
ing battery of the enemy on that aide, which it had orders to oarry. 

The assaiKng of the enemy's works in front of us vras to be 
made by the brigade composed of the 4th, 2 1 st and 44th, under 
major-general Gibbs, and the 3d brigade, consisting of the 93d, 
two companies of the 95th, and two companies of the fusileers, 
and the 43d, under major-general Keane. Some black troops 
were destined to skirmish in the wood on the right;— the princi- 
pal attack to be made by major-general Gibbs; — ^the first brigade 
and the 4Sd formed the reserve; — the attacking columns were to be 
provided with staling-ladders and rafts;— the whole to be at their^ 
stations by daylight. An advanced battery in our front of six 
eighteen-pounders was thrown up during the night, about eight 
hundred yards from the enemy's Hue. The attack was to be made 
at the earliest hour. Unlooked for difiiculties, increased by the 
falling of the river, occasioned considerable delay in the entrance 
of the armed boats; and those destined to land colonel Thornton's 
corps, by which four or five hours were lost, and it was not until 
half past five in the morning that the first division, consisting of 
five hundred men, were over. The ensemble of the general movc« 



APFENDiX. c* 

iiient was lost, and in a point which was of the last importance to 
the attack of the left bank of the river, although colonel Thorn- 
ton, as your lordship will see by his report, which I enclose, ably 
executed in every particular his instructions, and fully justified > 
the confidence the commander of the forces placed in his abilities. 
The delay attending that corps occasioned some on the left bank, 
and the attack did not take place till the columns were discerni- 
ble from the enemy's line at more than two hundred yards dis- 
tance. As they advanced a continued and most galling fire was 
opened from every part of their line, and from the battery on the* 
right bank. 

The brave commander of the forces, who never in his life 
could refrain from being at the post of honour, and sharing the 
danger to which the troops were exposed, as soon as irom his 
station he had made the signal for the troops to advance, gallop- 
ed on to the front to animate them by his presence, and he wa> 
seen with his hat off encouraging them on the crest of the glacisj 

' it was thei*e (almost at the slime time) that he received two 
wounds, one in his knee, and another, which was almost instantly 
fatal, in his body: he fell in the arms of major M<Dougall, aid-de- 
camp. The effect of this in the sight of the troops, together with 

* major-general Gibbs and major-general Keane being both borne 
off wounded at the same time, with many other commanding offi- 
cers, and further, the preparations made to aid in crassing the 
ditch not being so forward as they ought to have been, from, per- 
haps, the men being wounded who were carrying them, caused a 
wavering in the colunm, which in such a situation became irrepa- 
rable; and as I advanced with the reserve, at about two hundred 
and fifty yards from the line, I had the mortification to observe the 
whole falling back upon me in the greatest confusion. 

In this situation, finding that there had been no impression 
madey— that though many men had reached tiie ditch, and were 
either drowned or obliged to surrender, and that it was impossible 
to restore order in the regiments where they were, — I placed the 
reserve in position,* until I could obtain such information as to de- 

* This position was a tupine one. The reserve^ and all those of die 
advanced Golumns. who escaped slaughter, were ordered to croudi down in 
the stubble, where they lay flat upon their faces till night. This new evolu- 
tion was executed in order to avoid the fire of our aitiUery- 



'cKi APPENDIX. 

termlne me how to act to the best of my judgment) and whether 
or not I should resume the attack, and if so, I felt it could be done 
only by the reserve. The confidence I have in the corps compo- 
sing^ it would have encouraged me greatly, though not without 
loss, which might hare made the attempt of serious consequence, 
as I know it was the opinion of the late distinguished commander 
of the forces, that the carrying of the first line would not be the 
least arduous service. After making the best reflections I was 
capable of, I kept the ground the troops then held, and went to 
meet vice-admiral sir A. Cochrane, and to tell him that under au 
the circumstances, I did not think it proper to renew the attack 
on that day. At about ten o'clock I learnt of the success of colo- 
nel Thornton's corps on the right bank. I sent the commanding 
officer of the ardllery, colonel Dickson, to examine the situation 
of the battery, and report if it was tenable; but informing me that 
he did not think it could be held with security by a smaller corps 
than two thousand men, I consequently ordered lieutenant-colonel 
Gubbins, on whom the command had devolved (colonel Thornton 
being woui^ded) to retire. 

The army remained in position until night, in order to gain 
time to destroy the eighteen-pounder battery we had constructed 
the preceding night in advance, I then gave orders for the troops 
to resume the ground they had occupied previous to the attack. 

Our loss has been very severe, but I trust it will not be con- 
sidered, notwithstanding the failure, that this army has suffered the 
military character to be tarnished. I am satisfied, had I thought 
it right to renew the attack, that the troops would have advanced 
with cheerfulness. ' The services of both army and navy, since 
their landing on this coast, have been arduous beyond any thing I 
have ever witnessed, and difficulties have been got over with an 
assiduity and perseverance beyond all example by all ranks, and 
the most hearty co-operation has existed between the two services. 

It is not necessary for me to expatiate to you upon the loss 
the army has sustained in major-genex'al the hon. sir E. Paken- 
ham, commander-m-chief of this force, nor could I in adequate 
terms. . His services and merits are so well known, that I have 
only, in common with the whole army, to express my sincere re- 
gret, and which may be supposed at present to come peculiarly 
home to me. 



APPENDIX. oliU 

Major-general Oibbs, who died of his wounds the Sdlowing 
day, and major-general Keane, who were both carried off the field 
within twenty yards of the glacis, at the head of their brigades^ 
sufficiently speak at such a moment how they were conducting 
themselves. I am happy to say nujor-general Keane is doing 
well. 

Captain Wylly, of the fusileers, military secretary of the 
late commander of the forces, will have the honour of delirering 
to your lordship these despatches. Knowihg how much he en- 
joyed his esteem, and was in his confidence from a long experi* 
ence of his talents, I feel I cannot do less than pay this tribute to 
what I conceive would be the wishes of his late general, and to 
recommend him strongly to your lordship's protection. 
1 am, &c. 
(Signed) John Lambeet. 

Return <ifcaaualiies on the 9th January, 1815. 

General staff-— 1 captain, 1 lieutenant; wounded one major-general. 

Royal artillery— 5 rank and file killed; 10 rank and file wounded. 

Royal engineers, sappers and miners — 3 rank and file wgunded. 

4th foot — 1 ensign, 2 Serjeants, 39 rank and file killed; 1 lieute* 
nant-colonel, 1 major, 5 captains, 1 1 lieutenants, 4 ensigns, 1 
staff, 9 Serjeants, 223 rank and file wounded; 1 lieutenant, I 
Serjeant, 53 rank and file missing. 

7th foot — 1 major, 1 captain, 1 serjeant, 38 rank and file killed; .3 
captains, 2 lieutenants, 3 serjeants, 47 rank and file wounded. 

31stfoot^— 1 major, 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 3 serjeants, 65 rank 
and file killed; 1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 major, 3 lieutenants, 6 
aerjeants, 1 drummer, 144 rank and file wounded; 3 captains, 
7 lieutenants, 8 serjeants, 3 drummers, 3 17 rank and file missing. 

43d foot~3 serjeants, 1 drummer, 8 rank and file killed; 3 lieute- 
nants, 3 serjeants, 3 drummers, 34 rank and file wounded; \ 
captain, 5 rank and file missing. 

44th foot — 1 lieutenant, 1 ensign, 1 serjeant, 33 rank and file kil-^ 
led; 1 captain, 5 lieutenants, 3 ensigns, 5 serjeants, 149 rank 
and file wounded; 1 lieutenant, 3 serjeants, 1 drummer, 7$ rank 
and file missing. 



ci&^- APPENDIX. 

85th foot— 2 rank and file killed; 1 lieutenant-colonel, I lieutenants 
3 Serjeants, 2 drummera, 34 rank and file wounded; 1 rank and 
file missing. 

93d footp— 1. lieutenant-colonel, 2 captains, 2 Serjeants, 58 rank 
and file killed; 4 captains, 5 lieutenants, IT Serjeants, 8 
drummers, 348 rank and file wounded; 3 lieutenants, 2 ser- 
jeants, I drummer, 99 rank and file missing. 

95th foot— 1 Serjeant, 10 rank and file killed; 2 captains, 3 lieute- 
nants, 5 Serjeants, 89 rank and file wounded. 

Royal marines — 2 rank and file killed; 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, I 
Serjeant, 12 rank and file wounded. 

Royal navy — 2 seamen killed; 1 captain, 18 seamen wounded. 

1st West-India regiment — 5 rank and file kOled; 1 captain, 2 lieu- 
tenants, 2 ensigns, 2 Serjeants, 16 rank and file wounded; 1 rank 
and file missing. 

5th West-India regiment-— 1 Serjeant wounded. 

Total los»— 1 major-general, 1 lieutenant-colonel, 2 majors, 5 cap- 
tains, 2 lieutenants, 2 ensigns, 1 1 Serjeants, I drummer, 266 
rank and file killed; 2 major-generals, 3 lieutenant-colonels, 2 
majors, 18 captains, 38 lieutenants, 9. ensigns, 1 staflP, 54 Ser- 
jeants, ^ drummers, 1,126 rank and file wounded; 3 captains, 
12 lieutenants, 13 Serjeants, 4 drummers, 452 rank and file 
missing. 

Name% of officcra killed^ wounded and misHng. 

KILLED. 

GjBneral staff*— Major-general the honourable sir Edward Paken- 
ham, K. B. commander of the forces; captain Thomas Wilkin- 
son, 85th regiment, major of brigade. 

4th foot— Ensign William Crowe. 

7th foot— Major George King, captain George Henry. 

21st foot— Major John Anthony Whittaker, captain Robert Rcn- 
ny (lieutenant colonel,) and lieutenant Donald McDonald. 

44th fbot-^Lieutenant Rowland Davies, ensign M. M*Loskey. 

93d foot — Lieutenant-colonel Robert Dale, captain Thomas Hick- 
ins, and captain Alexander Mairhead. 



APPENDIX. cW 

WOUNDED. 

General staff.— Major-general Gibbs, severely (since dead;) ma- 
jor-general Keane, severely; captain Henry Thomas Shaw, 4th 
foot (brigade-major) slightly; lieutenant Delacy Evans (3d drst- 
goons, deputy-assistant-quarter-master-general) severely. 

4th foot— lieutenant-colonel Francis Brooke, slightly; major A. D. 
Faunce (lieutenant-colonel) severely; captain J. Williamson 
(major) severely; captain T. Jones (lieutenant-colonel) severely, 
(since dead;) captain J. W. Fletcher, severely; captain R. Er- 
skine severely; captain D. S. Craig, slightly; lieutenants Ellisy 
Pamal, Hopkins, and J. Salvin, slightly; lieutenants W. H. 
Brook, B. Martin, and G. Richardson, severely; lieutenant P. 
Boulby and G. H. Hearn, slightly; lieutenants W. Squire, C. 
H. Farrington, J. Marshall, and H. Andrews, severely; ensign 
Alexander Gerard, slightly; ensign Thomas Benwell, severely; 
ensigns J. S. Femandaz, and E. Newton, slightly; lieutenant 
and adjutant W. Richardson, slightly. . 

7th foot— captain J. J. A. Mullins, slightly; captain W. E. Page, 
severely; lieuten^^t M.Higgins, severely; lieutenant C.Lorentz, 
slightly. 
'Slst foot— -Lieutenant-colonel W. Patterson (colonel) severely 
(not dangerously;) major A. J. Ross, severely; lieutenant J. 
Waters, severely; second-lieutenant A. Geddes, severely. 

4Sd foot — lieutenant J. Mejrricke, severely (left leg amputated;) 
lieutenant D. Campbell, severely. 

44th foot— Captain H. Debbieg (lieutenant-colonel) slightly; lieu- 
tenant W. Maclean, slightly; lieutenants R. Smith, H. Brush, 
R. Phelan, and W. Jones, severely; ensigns J. White, B. L. 
Haydcn, and J. Donaldson, severely. 

85th foot — Lieutenant-colonel W. Thornton (colonel) severely, 
(not dangerously;) lieutenant B. C. Urquhart, severely (not 
dangerously.) 

^3d foot— captains R. Ryan, P. O. K. Boulger, A. M'Renzie, and 
H. Ellis, severely; lieutenants H. H. McLean, R. Spark, and D. 
Macpherson, slightly; C. Gordon, and J. Hi^y, severely. 

95th foot— Captain J. Travers, severely; captain N. Travers, 
slightly; lieutenants J. Reynolds, sir J. Ribton, J. Gosset, W. 
Blackhouse, and Barker, severely. 



cW APPENDIX. 

Royal marines^Captain G. EllioU, slightly; lieutenants H. Elliott, 
and C. Morgan, slightly. 

1st West-India regiment — Captain Isles, severely; lieutenants 
McDonald and Morgan, severely;, ensign Millar, slightly; ensign 
Pilkbgton, severely. 

Royal navy — Captain Money, of H. M. ship Trave, severely; mid- 
shipman M. Woolcombe, Tonnant, severely. 

93d fbot^Volunteer John Wilson, slightly. 

MISSING. 

4th foot — Lieutenant E. Field, severely wounded and taken prisoner. 

21st foot— Captain J. M^Haffie (nofiajor,) captain A. Kidd; lieute- 
nants J. Stewart and A. Armstrong, taken prisoners; lieute- 
nants J. Brady, wounded and taken prisoner; lieutenant J. Lea- 
vock, taken prisoner; lieutenant R. Carr, wounded and taken 
prisoner; lieutenant J. S. M. Fonhlangue, taken prisoner; second- 
lie utcnant P. Quin, wounded and taken prisoner. 

43d foot — Captain R. Simpson, severely wounded and taken pri- 
soner. 

44th footf— Lieutenant W. Knight. 

93d foot — Lieutenants G. Munro, J. McDonald and Graves, se- 
verely wounded; volunteer B. Johnson. 

Fred. Stoven, Lieut. Col, Deft, Adjt, Gen. 

mBTURV of OASUALTIS8 BBTWEBN THE 9th AND 36th JAKUART, 

1815. 

43d foot — 1 rank and file killed; 1 lieutenant, (£. D'Arcy, severe- 
ly, hoth legs amputated,) I serjeant, 2 rank and file wounded. 
t5th foot— 1 rank and file wounded. 
Total*— 1 rank and file killed; I lieutenant, 1 serjeant, 3 rank and 

file wounded. 

Fred. Stovb]9| Lieut. CoL Deft, jfdjt. Geru 

. RETURN OT THE ORDNANOE 

Taken from the enemy by a detachment of the army acting on 

the right bank of the Mississippi, under the command of colonel 

Thornton. 

Xedmibt, iK^Af Monk of the JUiiwsippi, Jan, 8M, 1815. 

1 brass ten-inch howitzer, 2 brass four-pounder field-pieces, 

3 twenty.four-pounders, 3 twelve-pounders, 6 nine-pounders, I 

twelve-pounder carronade, not mounted. 



APPENDIX. dvtt 

On the howitzer is inscribed^ ^ Taken at the surrender of 
York-Town, 1781." 

J. Mitchell, Majovy CafiL Royal Art, 

No. 5. 
Letter from lieutenant-colonel Thornton to major-general PakeUr 

ham. 
» 
Redoubt on the right bank of the Mitriwppi, January 8, 1815. 
Sir, 

I LOSE no time in reporting to you the success of the troops 
which you were yesterday pleased to place under my orders, with 
the view of attacking the enemy's redoubt and position on this 
side of the river. 

It is within your own knowledge, that the difficulty had been 
found so extremely great of dragging the boats through the canal» 
which had been lately cut with so much labour, to the Mississippi, 
that, notwithstanding every possible exertion for the purpose, we 
were unable to proceed across the river until eight hours after the 
time appointed, and even then, with only a third part of the force 
which you had allotted for the service. 

The current was so strong, and the difficulty, in consequence 
of keeping the boats together, so great, that we only reached this 
side of the river at day-break, and by the time the troops were 
disembarked, which was effected without any molestation from the 
enemy, I perceived by the flashes of the guns that your attack had 
already commenced. 

This circumstance made me extremely anxious to move for-' 
ward, to prevent the destrucdve enfilading fire, wkich would, of 
course, be opened on your columns from the enemy's batteries on 
this aide; and I proceeded with the greatest possible expedition, 
strengthened and secured on my right flank by three gun-boats, 
under captain Roberts of the navy, whose zeal and exertions on 
this occasion were as unremitted as his arrangements in embark- 
ing the troops, and in keeping the boats together in crossing the 
river, were excellent. 

The enemy made no opposition to our adrance, until we 
reached a piquet, posted behind a bridge, at about five hundred 
paces from the house in the Orange Grove, and secured by a small 
work, apparently just thrown up. 



clvui APPENDIX. 

This picquet was very soon forced and dnTen in by a diviskm 
of the 85th regiment, under captain Schaw, of that reg^iment, form- 
ing the advanced*guard, and whose mode of attack for the purpose 
was prompt and judicious to a degree. 

Upon my arrival at the Orange Grove, I had an opportunity 
of reconnoitring, at about seven hundred yards, the enemy's po- 
sition, which I found to be a very formidable redoubt on the bank 
of the river, with the right flank secured by an intrenchment ex- 
tending back to a thick wood, and its line protected by an inces- 
sant fire of grape. Under such circumstances it seemed to me to 
afford the best prospect of success, to endeavour to turn his right 
at the wood; and I accordingly detached two divisions of the 8Sth 
regiment, under brevet lieutenant-colonel Gubbins, to effect that 
object; which he accomplished with his usual zeal and judgment; 
whilst one hundred sailors, under captain Money, of the royal navy, 
who, I am sorry to say, was severely wounded, but whose conduct 
was particularly distinguished on the occasion, threatened the ene- 
my's left, supported by the division of the 85th regiment, under 
captain Schaw. 

When these divisions had gained their proper position, I de- 
ployed the column composed of two divisions of the 85th regi- 
ment, under major Deshon, whose conduct I cannot sufficiently 
recommend, and about one hundred men of the royal marines, un- 
der major Adair, also deserving of much commendation, and mov- 
ed forward in line, to the attack of the centre of the intrenchment. 

At first the enemy, confident in his own security, showed a 
good countenance, and kept up a heavy fire, but the determination 
of the troops which I had the honour to command, to overcome all 
difficulties, compelled him to a rapid and disorderly flight, leaving 
in our possession his redoubts, batteries, and position, with sixteen 
pieces of ordnance, and the colours of the New Orleans regiment 
of militia. 

Of the ordnance taken, I enclose the specified return of ma- 
jor Mitchell, of the royal artillery, who accompanied and afforded 
me much assistmce, by his able directions of the firing of some 
rockets, it not having been found pracUcable, in the first instance, 
to bring over the artillery attached to his command. . 

I shall have the honour of sending you a return of the casu- 
alties that have occurred, as soon as it is possible to collect them, 



APPENDIX, clix 

but I ua hftppy to say they are extremely inconsiderable when 
the strength of the position, and the number of the enemy are con- 
sidered, which our prisoners (about thirty in number) agree in 
;«tating from fifteen hundred to two tliousand men, commanded by 
general Morgan. 

I should be extremely wanting both in justice and in grati- 
tude, were I not to request your particular notice of the officers 
whose names I have mentioned, as well as of major Blanchard, of 
the royal engineers, and lieutenant Peddie, of the 27th regiment, 
deputy assistant-quarter-raaster-general, whose zeal and intelli- 
gence I found of the greatest service. 

The wounded men are meeting with every degree of atten- 
tion and humanity by the medical arrangements of staff surgeon 
Baxter. 

The enemy's camp is supplied with a great abundance of 
provisions, and a very large store of all sorts of ammunition. 

On moving to the attack I received a wound, which shortly 
after my reaching the redoubt, occasioned me such pain and stiff- 
ness, that I have been obliged to give over the command of the 
troops on this side to lieutenant-colonel Gubbios, of the 85th light 
infantry; but as he has obtained some re-enforcement since the at- 
tack, of sailors and marines, and has taken the best precautions to 
cover and secure his position, I will be answerable, from my 
knowledge of his judgment and experience, that he will retain it, 
until your pleasure and furthe;* orders shall be communicated to 
Um. 

I have the honour to be, &c. 
(Signed) W. Thorhton. 

No. 6. 
Letter from vice-admiral Cochrane to John Wilson CrokeTj esq. 

Artnide, of hk ou Chat, Januanf 18^ 1814. 

Sir, 

An unsuccessful attempt to gain possession of the enemy's 
lines near New Orleans on the 8th instant, having left me to de- 
plore the fail of major-general the hon. Sir Edward Pakenham, 
and major-general Gibbs, and depnved the service of the present 
assistance of major-general Keane, who is severely wounded, I 



dx APPENDIX. 

send the Plantagenet to England, to cowrcy a despatch from 
major-*general Lambert, upon whom the command of the army 
has devolved, and to hiform my lords commisaionera of the admi- 
ralty of the operations of the comluned forces since my arrival 
upon this coast. 

The accompanying letters, Nos. 163 and 169, of the fth and 
16th ultimo, will acquaint their lordships of the proceedings of 
the squadron to the isth December. 

The great distance from the anchorage of the frigates and 
troop*ships to the bayou Catalan, which, from the best informs* 
tion wc could gain, appeared to offer the most secure, and was, 
indeed, the only unprotected spot whereat to effect a disembarka- 
tion; and our means, even with the addition of the captured ene- 
my's gun-vesseh, only affording us transport for half the army, 
exclusive of the supplies that were required, it became necessary, 
in order to have support for the division that would first land, to 
assemble the whole at some intermediate position, from whence 
the second division could be re-embarked in light vessels brought 
into the lake, as near the bayou as might be practicable, and re- 
main there until the boats could land the first division and return. 

Upon the 16th, therefore, the advance, commanded by colo- 
nel Thornton, of the 85th regiment, was put into the gun-vessels 
and boats, and captain Gordon of the Seahorse proceeded with 
them, and took post upon the Isle aux Poix, a small swampy spot 
at the mouth of the Peari river, about thirty miles from the an- 
chorage, and nearly the same distance from the bayou, where ma- 
jor-general Keane, rear-admiral Codrington, and myself, joined 
them on the following day; meeting the gun- vessels and boats re- 
turning to the shipping for tnwps and supplies of stores and pro- 
visions. 

The hon. captain Spencer, of the Carron, and lieutenant Ped- 
dy, of the quarter -master-general's department, who were sent to 
reconnoitre the bayou Catalan, now returned with a favourable re- 
port of its position for disembarking the army; having, with their 
guide, pulled up in a canoe to the head of the bayou, a distance 
of eight miles, and landed within a mile and a half of the high 
road to, and about six miles below New Orleans, where they cros- 
sed the road without meeting With any interruption, or perceiving 
the least preparation on the part of the enemy. 



APPENDIX. cha 

The serere changes cyf the weatther, ^m rain to fresh gales 
and hard frost, retardbg the boats hi their repeated passages to 
and from the shipping, it was not until the 21st that (leaving cm 
board the greater part of the two black .regiments and the dra- 
goons) we could assemble troops and supplies sufficient to admit 
of our proceeding; and on that dajp ve recommenced the embarka- 
tion of the second diyision in the gun^vessels, such of the hired 
craft as could.be brought into the lakes, and the Anaconda, which 
by the greatest exertions had been got over the shoal passage. 

On the 22d these vessels being filled with about two thousand 
four hundred men, the advance, consisting lof about one thousand 
six hundred men,- got .into the boats, and at eleven o'clock the 
whole started, with a fair wind, to cross Lac Borgne; We had 
not, however, proceeded above two miles when the Anaconda 
grounded, and the hired craft and gun-vessels taking the ground 
in succession before they had got within ten miles of the bayou; 
the advance pushed on, and at about midnight reached the en* 
trance. ^ 

A piquet, which the enemy had taken the precaution to place 
there, being surprised and cut off, major-general Ke^ne, with 
rear-admiral Malcolm and the advance, moved up the bayou, and 
having effected a landing at day-break, in the> course of the day 
was enabled to take up a position across the main road to New 
Orleans, between the river Mississippi and the bayou. 

In this situation, about an hour after sun»set, and before the 
boats could return with the second division, an enemy's schooner 
»f fourteen guns, and an armed ship of sixteen guns, having drop« 
ped down the Mississippi, the former commenced a brisk can- 
nonading, which was followed up by an attack of the whole of the 
American army. Their troops were, however, bea^n off, an4 
obliged to retire with considerable loss, and major-general Keane 
advanced somewhat beyond his former position. As soon as the 
second division was brought up, the gun-vessels and boats re- 
turned for the remainder of the troops, the small armed seamen 
and marines of the squadron, and such supplies as Were required. 

On the 26th, major-general sir £. Pakenham and majors 
general Gibbs arrived at head-quarters, when the former took 
command of the army. ' 

X 



^Qlxii APPENDIX. 

The schooner which had conUnued at interrais to aimoy the 
troops, having been bamt on the 27th by hot shot from our artil- 
lery, and the ship having varped fruther up the river, the foUovr- 
ing day the general moved forward to within gon-^hcft of an in- 
trenchment which the enemy had newly thrown up, extending 
across the cultivated ground frsm the Mississi^i to an impassa- 
ble swampy wood on his left, a distance of about one thousand 
yards. 

It being thought necessary to bring heavy artillery against 
this woiic, and also against tiie ship which had cannonaded the 
army when advancing, guns were brought up from the shipping, 
and on the Ist instant batteries were opened; but onr fire not 
having the desired effect, the attack was deferred until the arrival 
of the troops under major-graeral Lambert^ which were daily ex« 
pected. 

Major-general Lambert, in the Vengeur, with a cenvoy of 
transports, having oh board the rth and 4Sd regiments, reached 
the outer anchorage on the 1st, and this re-enforcement was all 
brought Up to the advance on the 6th instant, while preparations 
were making for a second attack, in the proposed plan for which 
it was decided to throw a body of men across the river to gain 
possession of the enemy's guns on the right bank. For this pur*- 
pose the canal by which we were enabled to conduct ^provisions 
and stores towards the camp, was widened and extended to the 
river, and about fifty barges, pinnaces, and cutters, having, in the 
day of the 7th, been tracked under cover and unperceived, close 
np to the bank, at night the whole were dragged into die Missis^ 
sippi, and placed under the command of captain Roberts, of the 
Meteor. 

The boats having grounded in the canal, a distance of three 
hundred and fifty yards from the river, and the bank being com^ 
posed of wet clay thrown out of the canal, it was not until neariy 
daylight that, with the utmost possible exertions, this service was 
"completed. 

The 85th regiment, with a division of seamen under captain 
Money, and a division of marines under major Adair, the whole 
•mounting to about sixr hundred men, commanded by col. Them- 
ton, of the 85ih regiment, were embarked and landed on the right 



m 



APPENDIX. clxiu 

baidL of the river without opposition, just after daylight; and the 
armed boats moving up the river as the troops advanced, this part 
of the operations succeeded perfectly; the enemy having bveen dri- 
ven from every positicm, leaving behind him seventeen pieces of 
cannon. 

The great loss however sustained by the principal attack 
^having induced general Lambert to send orders to col<»iel Thorn* 
ton* to retire after spiking the guns and destroying the carriages, 
the whole were re-embarked and brought back, and the boats, by 
. a similar process of hard labour, were again dragged into the ca- 
nal, and from thence to the bayou, conveying at the same time 
such of the wounded as it was thought requisite to send off to the 
ships. 

Major-general Lambert having determined to withdraw tlie 
army, measures were taken tojre-embark the whole of the sick 
and wounded that it was possible to move, and the stores, ammu- 
nition, ordnance, &c. with such detachments of the army, seamen, 
and marines, as were not immediately wanted; ip order that the 
remainder of the army may retire unincumbered, and the last di- 
vison be furnished with sufficient means of transport. 

This arrangement being in a forward state of execution, I 
quitted head-quarters on the 14th instant, leaving rear-admiral 
Malcolm to conduct the naval part of the operations in that quar- 
ter, and I arrived at this anchorage on the 16th, where I am ar- 
ranging for the reception of the army, and preparing the fleet for 
further operations. 

I must, in common with the nation, lament the loss which 
the service has sustained by the death of Biajor-general the hon. 
wr Edward Pakenham, and major-general Gibbs. Their great 
military qualities were justly estimated while living, and their 
zealous devotion to our country's welfEure, will be cherished ^s an 
example to future generations. 

In justice to the officers and men of the squiodrpn under my 
command who have been employed upon this^expedition, 1 cannot 
omit to call the attention of my lords commissioners of the admi- 
ralty to the laborious exertions and great pri^titions which have 
been willingly and cheerfully boroe^ by every classi for a period 
of nearly six weeks. ^ . 



clxiv APPENDIX. 

From the 13th of December, when the boats proceeded to 
the attack of the enem7*s gan-ressels, to the present time, but 
▼erf few of the officers or men have ever slept on board their 
ships. 

The whole of the armj, with the principal part of its provi- 
uonS) its stores, artillery, ammunition, and the numerous neces- 
sary appendages, have been all transported from the shipping to 
the head of the bayou, a distance of seventy miles, chiefly in open 
boats, and are now re-embarking by the same process. The hard- 
ships, therefore, which the boats crews have ttnderg(me, from their 
being kept day and night continually passing and repassing in the 
inost changeable and severe weather, have rarely been equalled; 
and it has been highly honourable to both services, and most gra- 
tifpng to myseVf, to observe the emulation and unanimity which 
has pervaded the whole. • 

Rear-admiral Malcolm superintended the disembarkation' of 
the army, and the various ser^ces performed by the boats; and it 
is a duty that I fulfil with much pleasure, in assuring their lord- 
ships that his zeal and exertions upon every occasion could not be 
surpassed by any one. I beg leave also to offer my testimony to 
the unwearied and bheerful assistance afforded to the rear-admi- 
ral by captains sir Thomas M. Hardy, Dashwood, and Gordon, 
and the several captains and other officers. Rear-admiral Cod- 
liilgton acconipanied me throughout the service, and I feel much 
indebted for his, able advice and assistance. 

Captain sir Thomas Troubridge, and the officers and seamen 
attached, under his command, to the army, have conducted them- 
selves much to the satisfaction of the generals commanding. Sir 
Thomas Troubridge speaks in the highest terms of the captains 
and other officers employed under him, as named in his letter (a 
copy of which is enclosed) reporting their services. He particu- 
larly mentions captain Money, of the Trave, who I am much con- 
cerned to say, had both bones of his leg broken by a musket shot, 
advancing under a heavy fire to the attack of the battery that wai^ 
afterwards carried. 

The conduct of captain Money at Washington and near Bal- 
timore, where he was employed with the army, having before oc- 
casioned my noticing him to their lordshipy, I beg leave now t» 



APPENDIX. eta? 

recommend him most strongly to their protecticm. The wounrd 
that he has received not affording him any probability of his being 
able to return to hn duty for a considerable time, I have given 
him leave to go to England; and shall intrust to him my despatches. 

I have not yet received any official report from the captain of 
the Njrmph, which ship, with the vessels named in the margin^* 
were sent into the Mississippi) to create a diversion in that quarter. 

The bombs have been Ibr some days past throwmg shells in* 

to fert Pkquemine, but I fear without much effect. I have sent 

to recall such of them as are not required for the blockade of the 

river. 

I have the honour to be, &c. 

ALEXAHDXn CooHaAVB. 

JLetter from cafit, Thomas Troubridgc to vice-admiral Cochrane, 

Mead-quarterB near JV*ew OrleanB, Jamuny ]A» 18tS 
SlB, 

The conduct and exertions of the officers and seamen which 

you did me the honour to place under my command to serve with' 
the army on shore, having been such as to meet very general ap- 
probation, I feel it a duty I owe to them to make such known to 
you, and to particularize the exertions of captains Money^RogerS| 
and Westphall. 

I cannot sufficiently express the high sense I entertain of the 
seal and activity of lieutenant Scott, of the Tonnant, and lieute- 
nant Fletcher of the Norge, who, on all occasions, have sho^ 
themselves most deserving officers. , 

Captains Money and Rogers, who were detached across the 
river, again report the exertion and gallantry of lieutenant Scott, 
and also of Mr. Woolcombe, midshipman of his majesty's ship 
Tonnant, who particularly distinguished themselves in leading 
their men under a heavy fire to the battery that was carried. It 
is with infinite regret that I report the severe wound captain Mo* 
ney received while on this service. To lieutenants Wroote, of 
ftie Royal Oak, and Franklin, of the Bedford, with the many other 
officers employed, every praise is due. 

I have the honour to be, &c. 

Thomas Tboubridge. 

* Nymph, Herald, JEtna, Meteor, Thistle, Pigmy. 



cfacTi APrSNOSX. 

No. 7. 

LtHet from general Lamkertio <nrl JBathur^. 
HU Britannic Mujesty*^ sMfi Tdnnantj off Chandeleut^^ hiandf 
January Wthy isrs. 

After matttrety d^beratiiig^ on tiie utuation of ^s armjr» 
after the command had uofiDrtiinatoiP devolved upon me, oil the 
Ml instaaU coid dsty comadering what prabability bow remained 
of carrying en with success^ on the same plisn, an attack against 
New Orleans, it appeared to me that it ought not to be persisted 
in. I immediately communicated to vice-admiral sir A. Coch- 
rane that I did not think it would be prudent to make any farther 
attempt at present, and that I recommended re-embarking the 
army as soon as possible, with a view to carry into effect the other 
objects x)f the force employed upon this coast; from the 9th inst. 
it was determined that the army should retreat, and I have the 
satisfaction of informing your lordship that it was effected on the 
nighf of the 18th inst. and ground was taken up on the morning 
of the 19(h on both sides of the bayone, or creek, which the troops 
had entered on their disembarkation, fourteen miles from their 
position before the enemy's line, covering New Orleans, on the 
left bank of the Mississippi, and one mile from the entrance into 
Lac Borgne: the army remained in bivouac until the 27th instant, 
when the whole were re-embarked. 

In stating the circumstances of Uiis retreat to your lordship, 
I shall confidently trust that good order and discipline ever exist- 
ed in this army, and that zeal for the service, and attention was 
ever conspicuous in officers of all ranks* Your lordship is alrea- 
dy acquainted with the position the army occupied, its advanced 
post close up to the enemy's, and the greater part of the army 
were exposed to the fire of the battenes which was unremitting 
day and night since the Ist of January, when the position in ad- 
vance was taken up. The retreat was effected without beinp 
harassed in any degree by the enemy; all the sick and wounded 
(with the exception of eighty, whom it was considered dangerous 
to remove), field artillery, ammunition, hospital and other stores 
of every description, which had been landed on a very large scale, 



APPENDIX. clx^Oi 

were brought away, and nothing fell into the «neaiy*a Inndu, ex- 
cepting six iron eighteen<*pouaderft, auMinted on ssa cairingea, 
and two carronades, which weie In position on theteftbai&of the 
MissisBii^ to bring them off at tlie moment the aimf was ne* 
tiring was impo9aible» and to hajre 4oae it previously would havo 
exposed the whole force to any fire the enemy might have sent 
down the river. These hatHeriea were of course destroyed, add 
the ^ns rendered perfectly unaenriceaMe; only four men were 
reported absent next morning, ^d those, I suppose, most havo 
been left -behind and have foJlen into the hands of the enemy: but 
when it is considered the troops were in perfect ignorance of the 
mAvemeot, until a fixed hour during the night, that the picquetA 
difi not move off till half-past three o*doek m the morning, and 
tlut the whole had to retire through the most difficult new madft 
road, cut marshy ground, impassable for a hone, and where, in 
many places, the men could only go in single fikss, and that the 
absence of men might be accounted for in so raaiqF ways, it would 
be rather a mattar (^surprise the number was so few. 

An. exchange of piiaoners has be^i effecjked with the enemy 
upon very fair terms, and their attention to the brave prisoners^ 
and wounded, that have fallen into their iumds, has been kind and 
humane, I have every reason to believe. 

However unsuccessful the termination of the late service the 
army and navy have been employed upon, has turned o^^t^ it 
would be injustice not to point out how much praise is due to their 
exertions; ever since the 13th December, when the army began 
to move from the ships, the fatigue of disembarking and bringing 
up artillery and supplies from such a distance has been incessant; 
and I must add, that owing to the exertions of the navy, the army 
has never wanted provisions. The labour of the seamen and sol- 
diers was particularly conspicuous on the night of thte 7th inst 
when fifty boats were dragged through a canal into the Mississip- 
pi, in winch there were only eighteen Inches of water, and I am 
confident that the vice*admind sir Alexander Cochrane, who sug- 
gested the possibility of tins operation, wiU bp equally ready to' 
admit this, as well as the hearty co-operattons of the troops on 
all occasions. 



damii APPENDIX. 



Pran wlttt has oane nada* ny owb «lMcrf»tiBB nice I 
joined thie army, and £ram oftcial reports that liaTe been made 
la me, I beg to call your kmlaiup's atteotion to mdividuals whc^ 
from their atation, have rendered themaelTes pecnfiarly oonapicii- 
out. Major Forrest, at the head of the quarter-raaster-general's 
depaitmcot, I cannot say too much of. Lieatenant Evans and 
Peddle of the same, have been remarkable for their exeitians and 
sndefittigalnlity; rir John Tylden, who had acted m the field as 
assistant adjntant-general with me (lietttenanft-cidanelStovin hav- 
ing been wounded on the 33d ult. though doing well, not as yet 
^ing permitted to take active sendee), has been yeiy osehil; on 
the night of the 7tb, previous to the attack, rear-admiral Malorfm 
reports the great assistance he received from him in ftHwaiding 
the boats into the Mississippi; captain Wood, of the 4th regiment, 
deputy assistant adjutant-geneial, has filled that situation since die 
first disembarkation of the troops with zeal and attention. 

During the actioi of the 8th inst. the command of the 3d 
brigade devolved upon lieutenant-colonel Brooke, 4th regiment, 
that of the dd upon colonel Hamilton^ 5th West India regiment, 
and the reserve upon colonel Blayken, rojral fusileers; to all these 
officers I feel much indebted for their service. Lieutenant-colo* 
nel Dickson, royal ardllery, has displayed his usual abilities and 
assiduity; he reports to me his general satisfiiction oC all the offi- 
cers under his command, especially major Munro, senior officer 
of the royal artillery, previous to his arrival, and of the officers 
commanding omipanies. 

Lieutenant-colonel Burgoyne, royal engineers, afforded me 
•very assistance that could be expected from his known talents 
and experience; that service lost a very valuable and much es- 
teemed officer in lieutenant Wright, who was killed when recon- 
noitring oil the evening of the 3 1 st uldmo. 

Lieutenant-colonel Mein, of the 43d, and lieutenant-colonel 
Gubbins, 85th regiment, field officers of the piquets on the I8th, 
have great credit for the manner in which they withdrew the out- 
posts on the morning of the 19th under the direction of colonel 
BUkeney, royal fusileers. 

I request in a pardcular manner to express how much this 
army is indebted to die attention and diligence of Mr. Robb, de- 



APPENDIX cbdn 

j^ntj inspector of ho^kitalsy and ^eir immediale removali with 
such exoeUeBt arrangement, that me wounded were all brought 
off with rery fnyourable circumstance, except such cases as would 
have rendered their removal dangerous. 

Captain sir Thomas Troubridge, royal navy, who command- 
ed a battalion of seamen, and who was aittached to act with the 
troops, rendered the greatest service by his ezertiona in whatever 
Way they were required; colonel Dickson, royal artillery, par-' 
ticularly mentions how much he was indebted to him. 

The conduct of two squadrons of the 14th light dragoons, 
latterly under the command of lieutenant-colonel Baker, previ- 
ously of major Mills, has been the admiration of every one, by 
the cheerfulness with which they have performed all descripticms 
of service. I must also meatioo the exertions of the royal staff 
corps under major Todd so reported ^by the deputy•q^arter-master- 
general. 

Permit me to add the obligations I am under to my personal 
staff. Lieuteuant the honourable Edward Curzon, of the royal 
navy, who was selected as a naval aid-de-camp to the command- 
ing o£&cer of the troops on their first disembarkation, each of 
whom have expressed the satisfaction they had in his appointment, 
to which I confidently add my own. 

Major Smith, of the 95th regiment, now acting as military 
secretary, is so well known for his zeal and talents, that I can 
with great truth say, that I think he possesses every qualification 
to render him hereafter one of the brightest ornaments of his pro- 
fession. 

I cannot conclude without expressing how much the army 
is indebted to rear-admiral Malcolm, who had t|ie immediate 
charge of landing and re-embarking the troops; he remained on 
shore to the last, and by his abilities and activity smoothed every 
difficulty. 

I have the honour to be, &c. 

(Signed) John Lambert. 

P. S. I regret to have to report that during the night of the 
25th, in very bad weather, a boat containing two officers, viz. lieu* 
tenant Brydges and eorjiet Hammond, and thirty-seven of the 14th 

T 



clax V APPENDIX, 

light dragoons, unfortunately Ml into the hands of the enemy, off 
the mouth of the Rigolets. I have not been able to ascertain cor- 
rectly the particular circumstances. 

Return of casualties in action with the enemy Hear JSTew Orleans^ 
on the 23dand 24th December^ 1814. 

General staff—* 1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 major, 1 lieutenant 
wounded. 

Royal artillery— '2 'rank and file killed; 1 lieutenant, 7 rank 
and file missing. 

Royal engineers, sappers and miners— 1 rank and file mis- 
sing. 

4th fbot-^1 captain, 1 lieutenant, I sergeant, 1 drummer, 1 
rank and file killed; 1 sergeant, 3 drummers, 8 rank and file 
wounded; 3 rank and file missing. 

35th ditto— 3 captains, 1 1 rank and file, killed; 1 captain, 3 
lieutenants, 4 sergeants, 3 drummers, 57 rank and file, wounded; 
I lieutenant, 1 ensign, 1 sergeant, 16 rank and file, missing. 

93d do— 1 rank and file, wounded. 

95th foot-^6 sergeants, 17 rank and file, killed; 1 captain, 3 
lieutenants, 6 sergeants, 34 rank and file, wounded; 1 major, 3 
sergeants, 39 rank and file, missing. 

Total— 4 captains, I lieutenant, 7 sergeants, 1 drummer, 33 
rank and file, killed; 1 lieutenant-colonel, I major, 3 captains, 8 
lieutenants, 10 sergeants, 4 drummers, 141 rank and file, wound- 
ed; I major, I lieutenant, 1 ensign, 3 sergetmts, 58 rank and file, 
missing. 

NAMES OF OFFICERS RILLED, WOUNDED, AND MISSING. 

KILLED. 
4th foot— captain F. J. Johnstone, lieutenant John Souther- 
land. 

3 1st do— captam W. Conran. 

85th do*— captains C. Grey and C. Harris. 

WOUNDED. 

General staff — lieutenant-colonel Slovin, 28th foot, assistant 
adjutant-general, severely but not dangerouly; major Hooper, 
87th foot, deputy assistant adjutant-general severely (leg ampu- 



APPENDIX. elxxi 

tated), lieutenant D. Erans, 3d drtgoons, deputy Assistant quarter- 
master-general) severely. 

, Royal artillery— ^lieutenant J. Christie, severely. 

4th foot — lieutenant T. Moody, severely. 

89th foot — captain James Knox, lieutenants G. Willings, F, 
Maunsell, and W. Hickson, severely. 

95th foot— captain W. Hallen, lieutenant D. Forbes, severely; 
lieutenant W. J. G. Farmer, slightly. 

MISSING. 

85th do— lieutenant W. Walker, and ensign Q. Ashton. 
95th do— major Samuel Mitchell. 

Fred. Stovin. 

RETURN of casualties EETWEEN THE 25TH AND 31 ST DEOEM- 

IIER, 1814. 

Royal artillery — 4 rank and file killed; 1 lieutenant, 5 rank 
and file wounded. 

Royal engineers, sappers and miners, 1 rank and file wounded. 

4th foot — 4 rank and file wounded. ' 

21st do— -1 rank and file killed, 1 rank and file wounded. 

44th do— 2 rank and file wounded; 1 rank and file missing. 

85th do— 1 drummer, 3 rank and file killed; 2 ensigns, 11 
rank and file wounded. 

93d do — 2 rank and file killed; 5 rank and file wounded. 

95th do — 3 rank and file killed; 1 sergeant, 3 rank and file 
wounded; I rank and file missing. 

1st West India regiment — 1 captain, killed. 

5th do— 1 rank and file killed; 2 rank and file wounded. 

Total— 1 captain, 1 drummer, 14 rank and file killed; 1 lieu- 
tenant, 2 ensigns, 4 sergeants, 34 rank and file wounded; 2 rank 
and file missing. 

NAMES OF OFFICERS KILLEO ANO WOUNnEn. 

KILLED. 

1st West India regiment— ^captain F. Ceilings. 

WOUNDED. 

Royal artillery—lieutenant B. L. Poynter, slightly. 
85th foot— ensign sir Fred. Eden, Bart, severely (since dead> 
ensign T. Ormsby, slightly. Fnsn. Stoven. 



dzxii APPENDIX. 

BBTUKW 09 CAiUALTlBS BBTVCBN TBB UT ABB 5TK JBBV- 

ABT9 1815. 

Rofal ardlleiy-^1 lieutenaat, 1 sergeaal, 9 nmk and file, 
killed; 13 rank and file, wounded. 

Royal engineers sappers aad miners** 1 lietttenant, killed. 

21st foot — 1 rank and file killed; one lieutenant^ 4 rank and 
file wounded. 

44th do — 1 lieutenant, 1 rank and file killed; 3 rank and file 
Wounded. 

85th do— -3 rank and file killed; 2 lieutenants, 4 rank and file 
wounded. 

93d do. foot — 1 sergeant, 8 rank and file killed; 1 lieutenant, 
10 rank and file wounded. 

95th do— 1 rank and file killed; 2 rank and file missing. 

5th West India regiment— 4 rank and file killed; 2 rank and 
file wounded. 

Total — 3 lieutenants, 2 sergeants, 27 rank and file killed; 4 
lieutenants, 40 rank and file wounded; 2 rank and file missiog. 

NAMES OF THB OFFICERS KILLBP AND WOUNDBO. 

KILLED. 

Royal artillery— lieutenant A. Ramsay. 
Royal engineers — lieutenant P. Wright. 
44th foot—lieutenant John Blakeney. 

WOUNDED. 
21st foot— lieutenant J. Leavock, slightly. 
85th do-— lieutenant R. Carlton, severely; lieutenant J. W. 
Boys, slightly. 

93d do— lieutenant A. Phaup, severely, (since dead.) 

Fbbd. Stoviv. 

No. 8. 
Letter Jrom general Lambert to earl Bathurst, 

Head'Quarter9j Itle Daufihine^ February 14fA, 1815. 
Mt Lord, 

My despatch, dated January 29th, will have informed your' 

lordship of the re-embarkation of this force, which was completed 

rni the 30th; the weather came Ton so bad on thirt night, and con- 



APPENDIX. •Ixzm 

tknied so undl ikt 5th of February) tliat m cominiinicatioii could 
be held with the ships at the inner aaehorage, a ^stance of about , 
seventeen asiles. 

It being agreed between Tice-adnural sir Alexander Coch- 
rane and myself that operations should be carried towards Mobile, 
it was decided that a force should be sent against fort Bowyer, 
situated <m the eastern point of the entrance of the bay, and from 
every information that could be obtained, it was considered a bri-* 
gade would be sufficient for this object, with a respectable force 
of artillery. I ordered the second brigade, composed of the 4th, 
31st and 44th regiments, for this service, together with such 
means in the engineer and artillery departments as the chief and 
commanding officer of the royal artillery might think expedient. 
The remainder of the force had orders to disembark on Isle Dau- 
phine, and encamp; and major-general Keane, whom I am truly 
happy to say has returned to his duty, superintended their ar- 
rangement. 

The weather being fovourable on the 7th for the landing to 
the eastward of Mobile Point, the ships destined to i^ove on that 
service sailed under the command of captain Hjcketts, of the 
Vengeur, but did not arrive in sufficient time that evening to do 
more than determine the place of disembarkation, which was 
about three miles from fort Bowyer. 

At daylight the next morning the troops got into the boats, 
and six hundred men were landed under lieutenant-colonel Deb- 
beig, of the 44th, without opposition, who immediately threw out 
the light companies under lieutenant Bennett, of the 4th regi«> 
ment, to cover the landing of the brigade. Upon the whole being 
disembarked, a dispositi<»i was made to move on towards the fort, 
covered by the light companies. The enemy was not seen until 
about one thousraid yards in front of their works; they gradually 
fell back, and no firing took place until the whole had retired into 
the fort, and our advance had pushed on nearly to within three 
hundred yards. Having reconnoitred the forts with lieutenant- 
colonels Burgoyne and Dickson, we were decidedly of opinion, 
that the woHl was formidable only against an assault; that batter 
ries being once established, it must speedily fall. Every exertion 
was made by the navy to land provisions, and the necessary equip- 



cIxxiT APPENDIX. 

ment of the battering train and engineer stores. We liroke gronnd 
on the night of the Sth^and advanced a firing party to within one 
hundred yards of the fort during the night The position of the 
batteries being decided upon the next day, they were ready to re- 
ceive their guns on the night of the 1 0th, and on the morning of 
1 1th the fire of a battery of four eighteen-pounders on the ieft^ 
and two eight*inch howitzers on the right, each about one hundred 
yards distance, two six-pounders at about three hundred yards, 
and eight small cohoms advantageously placed on the right, with 
intervals between of one hundred and two hundred yards, all fur- 
nished to keep up an incessant fire for two days, were prepared to 
open. Preparatory to commencing, I summoned the fort, allow- 
ing the commanding officer half an hour for decision upon such 
terms as were proposed. Finding he was inclined to consider 
them, I prolonged the period, at bis request, and at three o'clock 
the fort was ygiven up to a British guard, and British colours 
hoisted; the terms being signed by major Smith, military secre- 
tary, and captain Ricketts, R. N. and finally approved of by the 
vice-admiral and myself, which I have the honour to enclose. I 
am hap|>y to say our loss was not very great; and we are indebted 
for this, in a great measure, to the efficient means attached to this 
force. Had we been obliged to resort to any other mode of attack, 
the fall could not have been looked for under such &vourable 
oircumstances. 

We have certain information of a force having been sent from 
Mobile, and disembarked about twelve miles off, in the night of 
the 10th, to attempt its relief; two schooners with provisions, and 
9n intercepted letter, fell into our hands, taken by captain Price, 
R. N. stationed in the bay. 

I cannot close this despatch without naming to your lordship 
again lieutenant-colonels Dickson, royal artillery, and Burgoyne, 
royal engineers, who displayed their usual zeal and abilities; and 
lieutenant Bennet, of the 4th, who commanded the light compa- 
nies and pushed up close to the enemy's works. 

Captain hon. R. Spencer, R. N. who had been placed with a 
detachment of searnen under my orders, greatly facilitated the 
service in every way by his exertions. 



APPENDIX. dM? 

From captain Ricketts, of the R. N. who waa charged with 
the landing and the disposition of the na^ force, I received eve- 
ry assistance. 

John Lambert. 

Fort Bovfyevj February UrA, 1815. 

Return of ordnance^ ammunition and etoresj captured from the 
enemy in thU place y on the 12rA instant: 

GUNS. 

1 twenty-four-pounder, 2 nine-pounders, outside the fort. 
Iron-— 3 thirty-two-pounders, 8 twenty-four-pounders, 6 twelve- 
pounders, 5 nine-pounders. 
Brass — 1 four-pounder. 
Mortar— 1 eight-inch. 
Howitzer— 1 five-and-a-half-inch. 

SHOT. 

Thirty-two-pounder — 856 round, 64 grape, 1 1 case. 

Twenty-four-pounder — 851 round, 176 bar, 286 grape, 84 case. 

Twelve-pounder — 535 round, 74 grape, 439 case. 

Nine-pounder — 78 1 round, 208 grape, 429 case. 

Six-poundex^— 15 round, 75 bar, 13 case. 

Four-pounder— 231 round, 38 grape, 147 case. 

Shells — 25 eight-inch, 74 five-and-a-half-inch. 

183 hand-grenades. 

5,519 pounds powder. 

I triangle gin, complete. 

16,976 musket ball-cartridges. 

500 flints. % 

35 1 muskets, complete, with accoutrements. 

J AS. Per 01 V A L, M9* Com, Royal Artillery. 

A. DioKSON, Lt, Col. Com. Royal Artillery^ 

Return of casualties in the army under the command of major 
general Lambert, employed before fort Bowyer, between the 
8th and 12th of February, 1815. 

Royal sappers and miners-* 1 rank and file wounded. 

4th foot-— 8 rank and file killed;- 2 serjeants, 13 rai\k and file 
wounded. 



ebucvr APPENDLK. 

21st foot— *2i stfrfeanlsi 2 rank and. file kiiled; 1 iwik and file 

wouoded. 

40th fiK>t~l rank and file killed; 1 rank and file wounded. 

Total-- IS killed, 18 wounded. 

F. Stoven, D. a, G, 

Roturn of the American garrison of fort Bowyer, which surren- 
dered to the force under major-general Lambert, 1 1th Febru- 
ary, 1815. 

1 field-officer, 3 captains^ 10 subalterns, 2 staff, 16 Serjeants, 
16 drummers, 327 rank and file, 20 women, 16 children, 3 servants 
not soldiers. F. Stovek, D. A» G, 



NO. Lxvn. 

IiETTKaS FOUNn on BOAnn THE ST. LAW&BKCE AT THE TIME OF 
HER SURRENnER TO THE CHASSEUR PRIYATEER. 

From colonel Malcolm to rear-admiral Malcolm, 

Cumberland lalandf Sth February ^ 1815. 
Ixeceived your letter of the Sth ult. it is written before your 
last attack on that place, but I most sincerely hope you will ulti- 
mately succeed. From all accounts New Orleans is very strong: 
the enemy will have gained a great confidence in themselves from 
their success. What a disappointment it will be in England should 
you fail — ^the chance of fiailure has not been calculated on, and 
from the force employed it has been made too sure at first 
t have no opinion of either the Indians or black new-raised cor/19: 
the former in this country carry on a most furious war — ^murder 
and desolation mark their track — ^there is no hope but flying, or 
resistance to the last moment of life: this is what every one says 
of the Florida Indians, of course the inhabitants of all descriptions 
would fear to come near you. There is a report here that neither 
the 2 1st or 44th regiments behaved well, but as a report I treat 
it. I should be sorry to hear two British regiments slurred in an 
attack.* 

* In this letter of the colonel's there was a lamentatioii expressed tiiat 
his share of the prize-money at St Mary's did notexcced/ve hundred pwnd$,* 



APVENDIX* clxxfii 

Avm colonel Malcolm to riwr^dmirtl Mklcolm* 

Cumberland Itlandy 1 Uk Feimartfy ISIS. 
I HOPS we may hear from you in a short time, and of yoiur 
siicceas against the place you are now before — (New Orleans.) 
It will refiay the trooft^for all their trouble and/atiguet! I do not 
expect, either war or peace, that we will move from this island 
this winten if the war goes on, a garrison must be left here in 
charge of the island. 

From 9ir Thomas Cochrane^ qfthe SurprtBC frigate ^ to captain PU 
gotf off JVirw Orleans. 
* Cumberland Island^ February 13M, 1815. 

I GAME here just two days too late to share in the good 
things going on. Old Somerville was senior, and ordered the at- 
tack on St. Mary's, which Barrie executed. The price-money 
will be about thirty thousand pounds, not more. Had our force 
been sufficient, the next movement would have been against Sa- 
vannah, but not mustering above a thousand bayonets, we were 
content to keep possession of this island, which we are placing in 
a state of defence. Our operations will, I suppose, be shortly put 
a stop to by our friend, Jemmy Madison^ as peace or war now de« 
pends on him: the commissioners at Ghent having signed, and the 
prince regent ratified, the terms of a peace, and hostilities will 
cease as soon as he does the same. We hope, in the mean time, 
better luck will attend you at New Orleans than has hitherto 
done, and that you will have time to give genelal Jackson a tnnir 
ming. 

From sir Thomas Cochrane to sir Thomas TroubridgCy off AV«> 

Orleans, 
JsTorth End Cumberland Island, February 12/A, \^IS. 
I HOPK this will reach head-quarters in time for the St Law* 
rcnce, who sails immediately for your part of the world with the 
news of peace being concluded with this country, but of which I 
should think you will receive earlier intelligence direct from Epg* 
land. We are in daily expectation of a flag of truce to inform us 
of Mr. Madison's hapng ratified the treaty, on his doing w(iiph 
hostilities will immediately cease. I cenfeas myself by no m^ms 



clxxvffi APPENDIX. 

sorry for this event. I think we have had quite enough of war 
for some years to come, although I should have wished we had 
made the Yankees -more sensible of our power and ability to pu- 
nish them, should they again provoke us. M it w, excrftt the in^ 
jury done to their trade^ we have little to boast of. We are all 
very much grieved to learn the disasters in your quarter. Our 
loss seems to have been immense; and from the reports we pick 
up, one is led to believe there was not much prospect of success 
at the commencement of the attack. We are most particularly 
unfortunate in our general officers on all occasions. I am afraid 
general Power and the regiment with him, will not be with you in 
time to render any service. He was at Bermuda on the 24th ult 
at which period the Statira had not arrived. 

I came here six weeks ago, and found St. Mary's had bten 
taken two days before my arrival, which, of course, cuts me out of 
what hoe been cafitured, Barrie commanded the party landed; 
old Somerville was senior officer, the admiral having only arrived 
Jhe day before me, in consequence of being blown off the coast by 
strong northwest gales on his way from the Chesapeake. It was 
at^'first supposed, as is usual on ail these occasions, that a great 
deal of money would be made; but if they clear thirty thousand 
fioundsf it will be as ?nuch as they will do. 

From admiral Cockbum to cafitain Evans. 

Head-Quarters^ Cumberland Island^ Wth February y 1815. 

No general, however, as you now know, has come here; 
JOu have had them all your way, and though I have learnt by a 
few hasty lines the unfortunate result of your first endeavours 
against New Orleans, yet excepting as far as relates to the poor 
generals and to the gross numbers you lost, I know no particu- 
lars, not even which of my many friends amongst you are dead or 
sUive, or which have broken bones or whole skins. I trust, how- 
ever, it will prove that you are amongst the latter, and I hope you 
will when at leisure favour me with a detailed account of all that 
has passed in your neighbourhood. 

We have been moi*e fortunate here in our small way. We 
have taken St. Mary's, a tolerably rich JilaOt, and with little loss 
have managed to do much damage to the enemy, and we are now • 



APPE^IDIX. cUxix 

in tolerable security} upon a large fertile island in Georgia, though 
an ugly account qffieace being signed (the particulars of which I 
have sent to sir admiral Cochrane) seems to promise a speedy 
dismissal to us from this coast. 

Fram Mr, Swainson to lieutenant Douglas, of H, M. brig Sofihte^ 

off Xev) Orleans. 

9th February J 1815. 

We had some fine fun at St. Mary's; the bombs were at the 
town, and had plenty of plimder. How are you off/or tables, and 
chests of drawers, iS^cP 

From J. Gallon to J. O'Reily, esq. on board H, M. shi/i Tonnant, 

off Aevf Orleans, 

^ Cumberland Island, 9th February, 1815. 

Wb have had fine fiin since I saw you. What with the Rap- 

pabannock and various other places, we have contrived to /tick up. a 

fevf trifling things, such as mahogany tables, chests of drawers, Istc, 

From John Miller to Mr, Thomas Miller, 75 Old Gravel luine, S$. % 
George*s, Fast London. 
H. M, shifi Lacedemonian, off land, February 12rA, 1815. 
Wb have lately been employed with the squadron under ad- 
miral Cockbum, and have taken Cumberland Island, and the town 
of St. Mary's, from the Yankees. Our troops and sailors behaved 
very well; part of the black regiment employed on this service 
acted with great gallantry. Blacky had no idea of giving quarters; 
and it was with difficulty the officers prevented their putting the 
prisoners to death. The Yankee riflemen fired at our men in am- 
bush; blacky, on the impulse of the moment, left the ranks, and 
pursued them into the woods, fighting like heroes. A poor Yan- 
kee, disarmed, begged for mercy. Blacky replied, " he no come 
in bush for mercy," and immediately shot him dead! 

From J, R. Glover to captain Westful,qf the Anaconda. 

Head' Quarters, Cumberland Island, ist February, 1815. 

We have established our head-quarters here, after ransack' 
ing St. Maiy's, from which we brought property to the amount of 
^fty thousand pounds, and had we two thousand troops^ we might 
yet collect a good harvest before peace takes place. My fore- 







clxxx APPBNOIX. 

bodings will not allow me to anticiiMte either bononr or profit to 
the expedition, of which you form a part, and I much fear the con- 
trary, yet most fervently do I hope my forebodings may prove 
groundless. The admiral (Cockbum) is as active as ever, and 
auccess in general attends his undertakings. 

Fnxm captain Jiapicr^ of the Ruryalu9 frx^te^ to eapiam Gordon, 
qf the Seahor9e. 

OffCafie Henry ^ January 24tAf 1815. 
Hebe I am in Lynhaven bay, the clippers sailing every day, 
and losing them for want of fost sailers. All our prizes are well 
disposed of. I have had a good deal to do with them, and not 
many thanks as you may suppose from the agents. I have peti- 
tioned the prince regent in behalf of the whole of us, for 2Lgood 
•Uce of prize-money, and I hope to succeed. You, I suppose, will 
not be displeased at it. Excuse this hasty scrawl, I am in a d— d 
bad humour, having just returned from an unaucceasfui chase. 

NO. LXVIII. 

NEOEO STEALIHO, 8cC. 

Atter the news of peace had reached the infamous Cock- 
tarn, at Cumberland Island, the following depredations were 
eommitted on St. Simons, by the British. The respectable editor 
of the Savannah Republican introduces the facts to the public by 
assuring us that ^ implicit reliance may ^ placed*' on the follow- 
ing statement: 

^ St, Simon^j February 13, 1815. 

** As the only person, at present, capable of making a just 
representation of the losses sustained by the inhabitants of St. 
Simons, I beg leave to state them to you, with a view tliat it may 
be presented to the proper department. 

Major Butler, (Hampton,) one hundred and fifty negroes: 
Ids dwelling-house rifled; groceries and every other article remo- 
ved to head-quarters (Cumberland.) 

James Hamilton will be ruined as to his negro property; his 
store pillaged; machinery employed in ginning the seed cotton 
destroyed; the vrhole of his packed cotton removed* 

A. C. Wylly, forty negroes taken, with his cotton. 

E. Matthews, twenty-six negroes and six bales of cotton. 



APPENDIX. 



dxxxi 



J. H. Giekie, fifteen negroes, stTeral bales of cotton. 

John Cooper, the number of negroes unknown. 
■ In truth, it is impossible to state circumstantially the loss 
which the unfortunate inhabitants have sustained. Cattle slaugh- 
tered in every direction; property of every descripuon held in re- 
quisition or destroyed. My feelings prevent my adding to this 
hateful catalogue of wo.** 



To the above I will subjoin a list of the 


negroes 


taken from 


the shores of the Missi^ippi by the British, whom 


they refused tp 


surrender, under the pretext of considering them 


as deserters, as 


it has been seen in this work. 










Messrs. Jumonville de Villi^rs, 








20 


Kernion, - • . • 


- 




- 


2 


Ducros, 








9 


Beauregard, 






- 


2 


Dufossat, 








1 


Mendez, - - - 






- 


4 


Delaronde, 








7 


Celestin Lachiapella, 






- 


43 


Versailles, 








% 


Veillon and Solis, - 






- 


2 


Macarty, 








1 


Jacques and Gabriel Viller6, 






- 


52 


Lacoste, - . 








13 


Delassize, 






- 


6 


Bienvenu, 








10 


Delery, - 






- 


1 


Reggio, 








3 


Harang, - 


- 




- 


1 


Philipon, 


- 






5 


Bronier, ... 


- 




- 


3 


Leandre Lacoste, 


. 






8 


Dclino, .... 


- 




- 


4 



Total 199 
Besides the loss of <iieir negroes, w>me of the planters 
above named have experienced other heavy losses, such as the 
whole tif l3mr ca^e, horses, buiMmgs, furaSture, fcc. to the 
amount of more than two hundred thousand dollars. 



dxxxu A'tPENDir. 

NO, LXIX. 

The following document was omitted initspropei^ place; it is 
deemed, however, of too much importance to be excluded entirely. 

ADDRESS 
Directed by major-general Jackson to be read at the head of each 

of the corfis comfioainff the line below J^ew Orlean^j Jan. 21, 

1815. 
Citizens and felloe-soldiers, 

The enemy has retreated, and your general has now leisure 
to proclaim to the world what he has notif^d with admiration and 
pride— your undaunted courage, your patriotism, and patience, 
under hardships and fatigues. Natives of different states, acting 
together, for the first time, in this camp; differing in habits and in 
langitage, instead of viewing in these circumstances the germ of dis- 
trust and division, you have made them the source of an honourable 
emulation, and from the seeds of discord itself have reaped the fruits 
. of an honourable union. This day completes the fourth week since 
fifteen hundred of you attacked treble your number of men, who 
had boasted of their discipline, and their services under a celebrated 
leader, in a long and eventful war^attacked them in their camp, 
the moment they had profaned the soil of freedom with their bos- 
tile tread, and inflicted a blow which was a prelude to the final 
result of their attempt to conquer, or their poor contrivances to 
divide us. A few hours was sufficient to unite the gallant band, 
though at the moment they received the welcome order to march 
they were separated many leagues, in different directions from the 
city. The gay rapidity of the march, and the cheerful counte- 
nances of the officers and men, would have induced a belief that 
some festive entertainment, not the strife of battle, was the object 
to which they hastened with so much eagerness and hilarity. Id 
the conflict that ensued, the same spirit was supported, and my 
communication to the executive of the United States have testified 
the sense I entertained of the merits of the corps and officers tliat 
were engaged. Resting on the field of battle, they retired in per- 
fect order on the next morning to these lines, destined to become 
the scene of future victories, which they were to share with the 
rest of you, my brave companions in arms. Scarcely were your 
fines a protection against musket-shot, when on the Wth a disp©- 



APPENDlt. " clxxxm 

•iition was made to attack them with all the pomp and parade of 
military tactics, as improyed by those veterans of the Spanish war. 
Their batteries of heavy cannon kept up an incessant fire; 
their rockets illuminated the air; and under their cover two strong 
colunuis threatened our flanks. The foe insolently thought that 
this spectacle was too imposing to be resisted, and in the intoxi- 
tion of his pride he already saw our lines abandoned without a con- 
test — how were those menacing appearances met? 

By shouts of defiance, by a manly countenance, not to be 
shaken by the roar of ills cannon, by the glare of his firework 
rockets; by an artillery served with superior skill, and with dead- 
ly effect. Never, my brave friends, can your general forget the 
testimonials of attachment to our glorious cause, of indignant ha- 
tred to our foe, of affectionate confidence in your chief, that re- 
sounded from every rank, as he passed along your line. This 
animating scene damped the courage of the enemy; he dropped 
his scaling ladders and fiE^cines, and the threatened attack dwin- 
dled into a demonatration^ which served only to show the empti- 
ness of his paradcy and to inspire you with a just confidence in 
yourselves. 

The new year was ui^ered in with the most tremendous fite 
his whole artillery could produce: a few hours only, however, were 
^ necessary for the brave and skilful men who directed our own to 
dismount his cannon, destroy his batteries, and effectually silence 
his fire. Hitherto, my brave friends, in the contest on our lines, 
your courage had been passive only; you stood with calmness, a 
fire that would have tried the firmness of a veteran, and you an- 
ttcipajted a nearer contest with an eagerness which was soon to be 
gratified. 

On the 8th of January the final effort was made. At the 
dawn of day the batteries opened and the columns advanced. 
Knowing thatihe volnntccrsimm Tennessee and the militia from 
Kentucl^ were stationed on you^left, it was. there they directed 
their chieTattack. 

Reasoning always from false principles, they expected little 
opposition from men whose officers even were not in uniform, who 
were ignorant of the rules of dress, and who had never been caned 
Into discipline — fatal mistaike! a fire incessantly kept up, directed 



with calmness and with unerring aim, strewed the field with At 
bravest officers and men of the column which slowlf adyanced, 
according to the most approved rules of European tactics/ and 
was cut down by the untutored courage of American militia. 
Unable to sustain this galling and unceasing fire, some hundreds 
nearest the entrenchment called for quarter, which was granted^- 
the rest retreating, were rallied at some distance, but only to make 
them a surer mark for the grape and canister shot of our artil- 
lery, which, without exaggeration, mowed down whole ranks at 
every discharge; and at length they precipitately retired from the 
field. 

Our right had only a short content to sustain with a few rash 
men who fatally for themselves, forced their entrance into the un« 
finished redoubt on the river. They were quickly dispossessed, 
and this glorious day terminated with the loss to the enemy of 
their coinmander-in-chief and one major-general killed, another 
major-general wounded, the most experienced and bravest of their 
officers, and more than three thousand men killed, wounded and 
missing, while our ranks, my friends, were thinned only by the 
loss of six of our brave companions killed, and seven disabled by 
wounds— wonderful interposition of Heaven! unexampled event 
Sn the history of war! 

Let us be grateful to the God of battles who has directed the 
arrows of indignation against our invaders, while he covered with 
his protecting ^ield the brave defenders of their country. 

After this unsuccessful and disastrous attempt, their spirits 
were broken, their force was destroyed, and their whole attention 
was employed in providing the means of escape. Tins they have 
effected; leaving their heavy artillery in our power, and many trf 
their wounded to our clemency. The consequences of tiiis short, 
but decisive campaign, are incalculably important, The pride of 
our arrogant enemy humbled, his forces broken, his leaders kiUed, 
his insolent hopes of our disunion fru8trated«^his expectation of 
rioting in our spoils and wasting our country changed into igno- 
minious defeat, shameful flight, and a reluctant acknowledgment 
of the humanity and kindness of those whom he had doomed to 
all the horrors and humiliation of a conquered state. ~^ 



APPENDIX- dxxxv 

Qq the other side) onaoimity establisbed, disaffection crushed, 
uak&dcupe restored, your country saved from conquest, your pro- 
perty from pillage, your wives and daughters from insult and vio- 
lation-— the union preserved from dismemberment, and perhaps a 
period put by this decisive stroke to a bloody and savage war. 
These, my br^ve friends, are the consequences of the efforts you 
have made, and thp success with which they have been crowned 
by Heaven. 

These iihportant results have been effected by the united 
courage and perseverance of the army; but which the different 
corps as well as the individuals that composed it, have yied with 
each other in their exertions to produce. The share they have 
l^pectively had, wiH be pointed out b the general order accom- 
panying this address. But the gratitude, the admiration of their 
country, offers a f{urer reward than that which any praises of the 
general can bestow, and the best is that of which they can never 
be deprived, the consciousness of having done their duty, and of 
meriting the applause they will receive. 

GENERAL ORDERS. 

JBead-QmirterMt 7th MUiiary DiHrict, Camp behm A%w Orleang, 

Adjuttau g9nerdP9 OJice, Jonuaty 81 . 

Before the camp at these memorable lines shall be broken 
up, the general thinks it a duty to the brave army which has de* 
fiended them, publicly to notice the conduct of the different corps 
which compose it. The behaviour of the regular troops, consist- 
ing of parts of the 7th and 44th regiments of infantry, and the 
corps of marines, all commanded by colonel Ross, has been such 
as to merit his warm approbation. The 7th regiment was led by 
major Peyre, and the 44th by captain Baker, in the action of the 
23d, in a manner that does those officers the highest honour. 
They have continued through the campidgn to do their duty with 
the same zeal and ability with which it was commenced. On that 
occasion the country lost a valuable officer in the death of lieute- 
nant M^Clellan of the 7th infantry, who fell while bravely leaduig 
his company Lieutenant Dupuy of the 44th, although severely 
wounded in this action, returned in time to take a share in all the 
subsequent attacks. 

a a 



clxxxvi APPENDIX- 

To the Tennessee mounted gunmen, to their galfaoit leader^ 
brigadier-general Coffee, the general presents his warmest thanks, ' 
not only for their uniform good conduct in action, bttt for the 
wonderful patience with which they have borne the fatigue, and 
the perseverance with which they surmounted the difficulties of a 
most painful march, in order to meet the enemy— « diligence and 
zeal to which we probably owe the salvation of the country. Or- 
dinary activity would have brought them too late to act the bril;- 
liant part the^ have performed in the defeat of our invader)^ All 
the officers of that corps have distinguished themseLves*,. but the 
general cannot avoid mentioning the name of Ueutenan^rcolonel 
Lauderdale who fell on the night of the 23d— -and those of colo- 
nels Dyer, Gibson and Elliott, who were wounded, but disdaining 
personal considerations, remained firm to their duty. 

The cavalry from the Mississippi territory, under their en- 
terprizing leader major Hinds, was always ready to perform eve- 
ry service which the nature of the country enabled them to exe- 
cute. The daring manner in which they reconnoitred the enemy 
oii his lines, excited the admiration of one army and the astonish- 
ment of the other. 

Major-general Carrol, commanding the detachment of West 
Tennessee militia, has shown the greatest zeal for the service, a 
strict attention to duty, and an ability and courage that will always 
recommend him to the gratitude of his country. His troops have^ 
since the lines were formed, occupied and defended the weakett 
part of them, and borne, without a murmur, an encampment on a 
marshy and unhealthy soil. In the memorable action of the 8th 
January, the chief effort of the enemy was directed against them; 
but their valour, and that of the brave men who supported them, 
(general Coffee's brigade on the left, and a part of the Kentucky 
troops on the right) soon made it clear that a rampart of high- 
minded men is a better defence than the most regular fortification. 

General Adair, who, owing to the indisposition 6f general 
Thomas, brought up the Kentucky militia, has shown that troops 
will always be valiant when their leaders are so. No men ever 
displayed a more gallant spirit than these did under that most va- 
luable officer. His country is under obligations to him. 



APPENBIX. dxxxvii 

• • i 

( Th« general wottldl>e ungrateful oi: insensible to merit, if he 
did dQt 'particularly notice the conduct of the officers and men 
wf^p so bhivdy supported and so skilfully directed his artillery. 
Colonel M<Rea, in the action of the 33d, showed, as he always 
.<loes, great courage. Lieutenant Spotts, under whose immediate 
direction our attillery had been placed, led it to action with a da- 
ring courage worthy of itdBftiration. Captain Humphrey com* 
manded the firsf battlSty on our right*— the service is greatly in- 
debtfifd^tl that oiRcer, not only for the able and gallant manner in 
which he directed his fire, but fpr the general activity he dis- 
played in his department. 

Lieutenant Norris of the navy, with Mr. Walker Martin and 
a detachment of seamen, was stationed at the 2d battery; and lieu- 
tenant Crawley, with Mr. W. Livingston (master's mate) with a 
similar detachment, were stationed at a thirty-two-pounder, which 
was remarkably well directed — they performed their duty with 
the zeal and bravery which has always characterized the navy of 
the United States. Captains Dominique and Belluche, lately com- 
manding privateers at Barataria, with part of their former crew 
and many brave citizens of New Orleans, were stationed at Nos. 3 
and 4. The general cannot avoid giving his warm approbation of 
the manner in which these gentlemen have uniformly conducted 
themselves while under his command, and of the gallantry with 
which they have redeemed the pledge they gave at the opening 
•f the campaign to defend the country. The brothers Xafitte 
.have exhibited the same courage and fidelity; and the genei*al 
promises that the government shall be duly apprized of their con- 
duct. Colonel Perry, deputy quarter-master-general, volunteered 
his services at No. 6— he was ably aided by lieutenant Kerr of the 
artillery— his battery was well served, bravely supported, and 
greatly annoyed the enemy— Nos. 8 and 9 were directed by lieu- 
tenant Spotts with his usual skill and bravery, assisted by Mr. 
Cheaveau. 

The general takes the highest pleasure in noticing the conduct 
of general Garrigue de Flaujac, commanding one of the brigades 
of militia of this state, and member of the senate. His brigade not 
being in the field as soon as the invasion was known, he repaired 
to the camp and offered himself as a volunteer for the service of a 



dxxxviii AfPENDiX. 

piece of artilleiy, which hie directed with the sfeM which Vas to 
be expected frota an experienced artillety of&cen disdaininl^ the 
exemption afforded by his seat in the senate, he continued hi thi& 
subordinate but honourable station, and by his example as well dh 
his exertion, has rendered essential services to hift coulntry. Mr. 
Sebastian Hiriard of the same body, set the same example, served 
a conbiderable time in the ranks of the volunteer battalion, and af*- 
terwards as adjutant of the coloured ti^E>opB. Major Plauche's 
battalion of volunteers, though deprived of the valuable services 
of major Carmac, who commanded them, by a wound which that 
officer received in the attack of the 28th of December, have t^ 
alized all the anticipations which the g^eneral had formed t>f their 
conduct. Major Plauche, and major St. Geme of that corps, havt 
distinguished themselves by their activity, their courage, and^ir 
zeal; and the whole corps have greatly contributed to enable the 
general to redeem the pledge he gave, when at the opening of the 
campaign he promised the country, not only safety,^ but a splctodid 
triumph over its insolent invaders. The two corps of coloured 
volunteers have not disappointed the hopes that were formed df 
their courage and perseverance in the performance of their duty. 
Majors Lacoste and Daquin, who commanded them, have desetr* 
ed well of their country. Captain Savary's conduct has been no« 
ticed in the account rendered of the battle of the^Sd, and that 
officer has since continued to merit the highest praise. 'Captain 
Beale's company of the city riflemen has sustained by its subse- 
quent conduct the reputation it acquired in the' action of the 23d. 
Colonel de la llonde, of the Louisiana militia, has been extremely 
servioeable by his exertions, and has shown gheat courage, aotd an 
uniform attachment to the cause of the country. 

General Humbert, who offered his services as aVoluntetfry 
has continually exposed himself to the greatest dangers, With lils 
characteristic bravery, as has also the Mexican field-mkn^hal, 
Don Juan de Anaya,' who acted in the same capacity. The ge- 
neral acknowledges the important assistance he has rcceivcdfeom 
commodore Patterson, as well by his professional exertion, as die 
zealous co-operation of his departnieiit during the whole courseoff 
the campaign. Captain Henley, on board of the Carolina, «tod jtf- 
tcrwards in directing the erection of several batteries at the bayou 



APPENDIX. cluok 

and til tke right bi*k *f Uie Hr^ri wu of crtet utUitf to the «r^ 
fft^« lieuteiiaiit Alex]8> of tile nxfji itotiotied in the navy antp- 
nA ^^9 hidefatigtMe in exertiofis to forwurd to the einiy eveiy 
ChsBf^ whkh cottM fiitdlitate its epeimti o fte to -»efci and BttmHf 
deserve the nodee at the goverDmeHt M«jt>r Nickfl, who^ by en 
iKxidental wewid ims deprived of the pleeeure of eomauuHUag 
the 7th regiment during the c«n|^lgfH wna coatiasally employed 
IB ilae felt, uid Ivrmshed the aCHMnnnilion end the artiliery that w«s 
iranted n iili ifae greatest acti^^ and promptitude* To the vo- 
.lunteers of the Mississippi terrlberyt and to the militia of the re- 
moter parts of this state, who have arrived since the decisive ac- 
tion of the eth, the general Haiders his thanks, and is canrinced 
that nothing hut opportunity was wantiag to entitle Item to the 
pfMses that have heen merited hy the rest of the army. Captain 
Ogden^s tnsop of horse was peculiarly useful by their local know- 
ledge of the gropund'on which they acted; 4um1 the smaU detach- 
ment of the Attacapas dragoons, stained near head-quartecs, 
were indefiMagable in pfrformng all the duties which devolved on 
liieni, 

The general would not do justice to.his staff if he did net he- 
stow deserved praise on the adjutant-general^ colonel Butler, iuid 
his assistant, major Chotard, for their seal and activity in the im- 
portant departmentH>f service confided to them, and for the brave- 
ry which led them wherever danger or duty required their pre- 
sence. The vigilance, courage, and attention to duty, exhibited 
during the campaign by colonel Haynes, and his two assistants, 
majors Davis and Hampton, have been appreciated, as they de- 
served to be, by the general. 

The general's aids-de-camp^ Thomas L. Butler and captain 
John Reed, as well as his volunteer uds, Messrs. Livingston, 
Duncan, Grymes, Duplessis and major Davezac de Castera, the 
judge advocate, have merited the thanks of the general by the 
calm and deliberate courage they have displayed on every occa- 
sion, and in every situation that called it forth. The topographi- 
cal engineer, major Tatum, exhibited all the ardour of youth in the 
hour of peril, united to the experience acquired by his long ser- 
vices. The chief engineer, major Lacarriere Latour, has been 
useful to the army by his talents and bravery. The same praises 



^c APPENDIX. 

are due to his aasiatantS} captain Lewis Linngstoa and Mr. La- 
trobe. The medical staff has merited well of the country, and the 
general would not do justice to his own feelings were he to mth- 
boldfrom Dr. Kerr, hospital surgeon, who volunteered his services, 
and Dr.^lood, the just tribute of applause deserved by them for 
their medical skill and personal bravery. The quarter-master's 
department, though deprived of the personal exertions of colonel 
Piatt, who vras virounded in the night action of the 33d, perfwmed 
well their duties. Major-general Viller6 and brigȣcr Morgan 
have merited the approbation of the general by their unwearied 
attention sitace they took the field. 

The large mortar was ably directed by captain Lefebre and 
by Mr. Gilbert. Captun Blanchard was very useful as an engi- 
neer, and merits the general's praise for the celerity and skill with 
which he erected the battery which now commands the river, on 
the right of the camp. Mr, Busquet and Mr. Ducoin, of major 
St. Geme's company, displayed great knowledge and dexterity as 
artillerists. To the whole army the general presents the assur- 
ance of his official approbation, and of his indiridual regard. This 
splendid campaign will be considered as entitling every man who* 
has served in it to the salutation of his brother in arms. 
By conmiand, 

V RoBEXT Butler, Adjt. Gen. 



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N0» 68 CHBSfirUT-STREBT, PHILAPEIPHIA* 

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** The expedition of Bonaparte into Russiai oi^ which this work 
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were fought. The difficulties which he had to overcome in the . 
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with his companions in arms, against the most urgept wants of 
nature— benumbed with cold, and tormented with hunger«N^uncer- 
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